Warner Bros. Pictures Shifts Release Date for Spike Jonze's HER

Warner Bros. Pictures has moved the release date of Spike Jonze's already much anticipated romantic drama HER. The film will now open in limited release in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto on December 18, 2013, and wide on January 10, 2014. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

The move comes on the heels of strong positive reactions coming out of early screenings. "Her" has also just been announced by the New York Film Festival as its selection for the prestigious Closing Night Gala slot. The date change allows the studio to take full advantage of word of mouth resulting from the Festival screening, placing the film in the key awards consideration corridor and positioning it for its December opening and wider launch in January.

In making the announcement, Fellman stated, "Spike Jonze has created an unconventional love story that is thought-provoking and reflective of our modern age. Based on the responses we've seen thus far, we have confidence that 'Her' will be embraced by both critics and audiences and look forward to sharing it with them, beginning in the holiday season."

Set in Los Angeles, in the near future, "Her" follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet "Samantha," a bright, female voice (Scarlett Johansson) who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other.

From the singular perspective of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Spike Jonze ("Being John Malkovich") comes "Her," an original love story that explores the evolving nature-and the risks-of intimacy in the modern world.

Written and directed by Jonze, the romantic drama stars Oscar nominees Joaquin Phoenix ("The Master," "Walk the Line"), Amy Adams ("The Master," "Doubt") and Rooney Mara ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"); Olivia Wilde (upcoming "Rush"); and Scarlett Johansson ("Lost in Translation").

"Her" is produced by Megan Ellison, Spike Jonze and Vincent Landay. Daniel Lupi, Natalie Farrey and Chelsea Barnard served as executive producers.

The film reunites many of Jonze's longtime creative collaborators, including production designer KK Barrett, editor Eric Zumbrunnen and costume designer Casey Storm, who worked together on "Where the Wild Things Are," "Adaptation." and "Being John Malkovich." Joining them is director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"), and editor Jeff Buchanan (HBO's "Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak," which Jonze co-directed). The music is composed by Arcade Fire.

A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation of an Annapurna Pictures Production, "Her" will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

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