Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER to Return to Theaters for Oscar Run

Deadline reports that Lee Daniels' "The Butler" will return to theaters beginning this Friday, December 6th, in a last minute push for Oscar recognition. The historical film will play in 1007 theaters nationwide.

The Butler, which initially earned $115 million domesticall, is considered a good bet for a Best Picture nominee, along with acting nods for stars Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and David Oyelowo. Lee Daniels is a safe bet for a Best Director nom as well as Danny Strong who penned the screenplay.

The film hit theaters on August 16th and gives an inside look at life inside the White House from a distinctly African-American point of view-before the Obama administration came to office.

The award-winning cast includes Forest Whitaker (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND), Mariah Carey (PRECIOUS), John Cusack (THE PAPERBOY), Jane Fonda (ON GOLDEN POND),Cuba Gooding, Jr. (JERRY MAGUIRE), Terrence Howard (HUSTLE & FLOW), Minka Kelly (THE ROOMMATE),Lenny Kravitz (PRECIOUS), Melissa Leo (THE FIGHTER), James Marsden (X-MEN), David Oyelowo (THE PAPERBOY), Alex Pettyfer (MAGIC MIKE), Vanessa Redgrave (CORIOLANUS), Alan Rickman (CBGB), Liev Schreiber (X-MEN), and Robin Williams (GOOD WILL HUNTING).

THE BUTLER, based on the screenplay by DANNY STRONG & Lee Daniels, is inspired by Wil Haygood's Washington Post article about an African-American man who served as a butler (Whitaker) to eight Presidents in the White House for over thirty years. From this unique vantage point, THE BUTLER traces the dramatic changes that swept American society, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam and beyond, and how those changes affected this man's life and family. "What moves me most about this man is his quiet nature, grace and unmatched perspective that comes from being in one place - a very powerful one - during what was arguably the period in American history that saw the most change," said Daniels, whose most recent film, THE PAPERBOY, premiered at the 2012 Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals, and will also be featured in this fall's New York Film Festival.

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