Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn finally has a release date. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter confirm that the 3-D motion-capture feature, which went into production this past January, will arrive in U.S. theaters on December 23, 2011.
The story is based on the Belgian comic strip series that first appeared in the late 1920s. The comic follows Tintin, a Belgian reporter, and his sidekick dog Snowy as they embark on various adventures across the globe. Paramount and Sony, who are producing the movies, decided to release Secret of the Unicorn in international cinemas beginning in late October 2011, ahead of the domestic release, due to its familiarity abroad and its lack of exposure in the States.
The movie is the first in a series of three adaptations, with the second to be helmed by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. Spielberg and Jackson are also producing the series, along with Kathleen Kennedy. The current cast includes British star Jamie Bell in the title role and Daniel Craig as his nemesis. Also cast are Andy Serkis (Gollum in LOTR), Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones, and Mackenzie Crook.
You can check out the official English-language Tintin site, which includes pictures from the production and a video message from Spielberg and Jackson.