Madonna's 'W.E.' US release pushed to 2012

The release date of Madonna's romantic drama W.E. has been pushed back until after the new year.

The film, which features two timelines depicting the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson and a contemporary romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard, will forego its previously scheduled December 9 release and will instead open in theatres on February 3, 2012.

W.E. will still launch a limited qualifying run next month, allowing it to be considered for next year's awards shows such as the Oscars and Golden Globes, confirms The Hollywood Reporter.

The Weinstein Company decided on the move in order to avoid the over-crowded Christmas release calendar as well as to take advantage of Madonna's highly anticipated performance at Super Bowl XLVI of her new single 'Give Me All Your Love'.

Andrea Riseborough, James D'Arcy, Abbie Cornish, Oscar Isaac, Katie McGrath, Richard Coyle and Laurence Fox star in W.E.

W.E. made its UK premiere at the London Film Festival last month, where Madonna was booed by waiting fans.

Watch a preview clip from W.E. below: