LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima" will be released in some U.S. cities earlier than scheduled, to qualify for this year's Academy Awards.
The Japanese-language companion piece to "Flags of Our Fathers" will open in New York, Los Angeles and possibly San Francisco Dec. 20 rather than the originally scheduled February date.
"Letters from Iwo Jima" is an account of the same bloody World War II battle as "Flags," but from the viewpoint of the Japanese garrison.
In addition to making the film eligible for this year's awards season, the new date capitalizes on the drawing power of "Flags," Daily Variety said.
Eastwood consulted Steven Spielberg -- a producer on both films -- before approaching Warner Bros. about changing the release date, Variety said.
