Christmas date for 'Playing the Field'

FilmDistrict has moved back its opening of romantic comedy "Playing the Area" from March 9 to Xmas Day. "Playing the Area" might have faced competition around the earlier date from Disney's "John Carter," Sony's "Think Just like a Guy," Relativity's "The Raven" and Open Road's "Quiet House." Christmas features a set of Leonardo DiCaprio game titles -- "The Truly Amazing Gatsby" from Warner Bros. and "Django Unchained" in the Weinstein Co. "Playing the Area" stars Gerard Butler and Jessica Biel together with Judy Greer, Dennis Quaid, Uma Thurman and Catherine Zeta-Johnson. Story focuses on the homecoming of the upon the market soccer professional whose glory days are behind him, moves to Virginia to reunite together with his estranged ex-wife and neglected boy and begins to teach the boys' team. FilmDistrict, released this year by Graham King and Tim Headington, acquired domestic privileges to "Playing" from Nu Image/Millenium throughout last year's Cannes Film Festival. A spokesperson for FilmDistrict indicated Thursday the date change is made to make the most of holidays moviegoing. The change comes per month after FilmDistrict decided to a 3-film distribution cope with Open Road, to which Open Road will release scifier "Avoid M.S. One," starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Sophistication, on April 20, and also the "Red-colored Beginning" remake on November. 2. The 3rd film has not been selected. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com