'Charlie Wilson' gets early release date

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- "Charlie Wilson's War," a new Hollywood movie starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, is set to hit theaters four days earlier than planned.

Universal Pictures said it has decided to move its release date up to Dec. 21 from its original Christmas Day date.

"We saw an opportunity to advance the release of this film and are taking advantage of that. We've seen how strongly 'Charlie Wilson's War' plays and can't wait to get it in front of audiences everywhere. We are confident that their enthusiastic word-of-mouth will be one of the things that helps us continue playing strongly through this terrific movie-going period," Adam Fogelson, Universal Pictures' president of marketing and distribution, said in a statement.

The movie is based on the true story of how one congressman who loved a good time, one Houston socialite who loved a good cause and one CIA agent who loved a good fight conspired to bring about the largest covert operation in history, Universal said.

"Primary Colors" director Mike Nichols helmed the film, which was penned by "The West Wing" co-creator Aaron Sorkin.