'Valkyrie' pushed back to 2009

Rex Features

The United Artists and MGM World War II thriller Valkyrie has been pushed back from an October 3 release to February 13 next year.

The film was originally due to bow this summer but was pushed back to allow director Bryan Singer to complete shooting.

The latest release change shifts Valkyrie away from Hollywood's awards season and into a date that will see it face competition from Confessions of a Shopaholic and the Friday the 13th remake.

"MGM is proud and excited to be presenting Valkyrie, and because of that we want to give it the best launch possible," said Clark Woods, President of Domestic Distribution at MGM.

"When an opening became available for President's Day Weekend, we seized the opportunity. Having seen a lot of the film and how great it is going to play once it's finished, moving into a big holiday weekend is the right move."

Both the Pink Panther sequel and Wolfman recently vacated the February 13 weekend.

Valkyrie revolves around a plot by German officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp and Carice Van Houten star in the film.