Peter Weir's 'The Way Back' Will Get Oscar Qualifying Run, Will Open In L.A. On December 29th

For a minute there it seemed like Peter Weir's latest "The Way Back" might not get a chance to play in the Oscar show, but those worries can be put aside as distributors Exclusive Media Group and Wrekin Hill Entertainment have confirmed that the film will get an Oscar qualifying run before expanding to theaters in early 2011.

Starring Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Mark Strong and Saoirse Ronan, the epic follows group of seven prisoners who escape a Siberian labor camp in 1940 and attempt to trek thousands of miles across hostile terrain to India and their freedom. The film premiered at Telluride to strong reviews and even though it was picked up for distribution, its Oscar campaign was initially in doubt.

For those of you lucky enough to live in Los Angeles, the film will hit theaters on December 29th but the rest of us will have to wait until January when it opens wider, landing in 500 theaters. Our only remaining question now is: can we please see a trailer? Thanks.