I kind of feel bad for Tom Cruise. Yes, I know, I’ve made fun of him in the past, and I will probably continue to do so. (Hey, I ain’t too proud to ignore easy targets. Watch out, Britney Spears!) But I do feel bad for the guy, not least of which because he seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that his movie star status is slipping away from him like a social life in high school slips through a fat kid’s fingers. But there is some good news from the Cruister — no, not that he’s once again the star of “Edwin A. Salt”, but that his WWII movie “Valkyrie” has gotten a new release date, and all three of you who are still waiting for another starring vehicle with the Cruise man won’t have to wait until 2009. Instead, “Valkyrie”, directed by Bryan Singer, will be released on December 26, 2008.

Here’s the press release:

LOS ANGELES, CA- August 13, 2008 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures announced today they will be releasing the suspense film, VALKYRIE, from Director Bryan Singer, on Friday, December 26, 2008.

“We saw and tested the movie,” says Clark Woods, President of MGM Distribution. “and we believe a strong movie deserves a strong playdate.”

Tom Cruise stars in the suspense thriller, VALKYRIE, based on the true story of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (CRUISE) and the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil criminals the world has ever known. Director Bryan Singer (THE USUAL SUSPECTS, X-MEN, SUPERMAN RETURNS) re-teams with Academy Award®-winning USUAL SUSPECTS screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie to bring to life the story of the men who led the operation to assassinate Hitler. The film also stars an acclaimed cast including Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Carice van Houten, Thomas Kretschmann, Eddie Izzard, Christian Berkel and Terence Stamp.

A proud military man, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg is a loyal officer who serves his country all the while hoping that someone will find a way to stop Hitler before Europe and Germany are destroyed. Realizing that time is running out, he decides that he must take action himself and joins the German resistance. Armed with a cunning strategy to use Hitler’s own emergency plan – known as Operation Valkyrie – these men plot to assassinate the dictator and over-throw his Nazi government from the inside. With everything in place, with the future of the world, the fate of millions and the lives of his wife and children hanging in the balance, Stauffenberg is thrust from being one of many who oppose Hitler to the one who must kill Hitler himself.

VALKYRIE is produced by Bryan Singer, Christopher McQuarrie and Gilbert Adler. McQuarrie co-wrote the original screenplay with Nathan Alexander who also serves as co-producer. The executive producers are Chris Lee, Ken Kamins, Daniel M. Snyder, Dwight C. Schar and Mark Shapiro.

So mark your calendar, kids!

Anyways, they were also groovy enough to send this additional still from the movie:

more “Valkyrie” images at our movie gallery