Tom Cruise's 'Valkyrie' Shuffled Back To Oscar Season & December Release

With the movement of the “Valkyrie” release date from the back burner date of February 23rd to the prime-time slot of December 26th, it seems as though studio execs believe in Tom Cruise once again. Was it the successful parody of Hollywood excess in Ben Stiller’s comedy, “Tropic Thunder?” (that hasn’t even been successfully tested by the pubic yet) Will the pleebs forget the whole bat-shit crazy thing and embrace him as a leading man again?… Or is it maybe just that director Bryan Singer is just done with the film ahead of schedule now that summer reshoots are over?

“We saw and tested the movie,” said Clark Woods, President of MGM Distribution in a press release. “and we believe a strong movie deserves a strong playdate.”

However unlikely it seems that Cruise would be able to capture his pre-Scientology level of fame, his star does seem on the rise since his public opinion has been heading straight down the shitter the past few years, along with his bankability. Even accounting for his strong showing in “Tropic Thunder” and assuming “Valkyrie” is a hit, it is hard to believe the movie-going public could hide from themselves the fact that he has kidnapped/married one of the most popular young actress in Hollywood and turned her into a bland soccer mom who may or may not be brainwashed (think of that haircut for fuck’s sake).

Either way, “Valkyrie” is now officially part of the Oscar race and the film co-stars Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Eddie Izzard, Christian Berkel and Terence Stamp (all playing Germans who speak English in the film of course, blech).

With the date moved into Oscar-bait season it definitely illustrates studio confidence once again and it appears that Cruise has some consolation about being replaced by a woman in the upcoming film, “Edwin A. Salt,” and another ego boost could be in the works as he also is in talks to star in the remake of the French thriller, “The Tourist” (though Jeff Wells is saying Cruise wasn’t replaced in ‘Salt’ as he had never officially made his mind up about the role).

Down one day, up the next. Never count someone totally out in Hollywood until that fat lady sings. Keep in mind though, this is the fourth release date change for “Valkyrie.”