Lionsgate has moved up the release of Miller's directorial debut, The Spirit, which was adapted from Will Eisner's comicstrip, from Jan. 16 to Dec. 25, right in the heart of the holiday season.

According to Variety, the action-adventure romance stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes. Miller (300, Sin City) wrote the adapted script.

Spirit, a co-production of Odd Lot Entertainment and Lionsgate, revolves around a slain rookie cop who returns from the dead to fight crime and track a cold-blooded killer.

Also set to open Dec. 25 are two broad comedies: Disney's Adam Sandler starrer Bedtime Stories and 20th Century Fox's Jennifer Aniston-Owen Wilson starrer Marley & Me.

The Spirit was released December 25th, 2008 and stars Jaime King, Gabriel Macht, Dan Gerrity, Arthur the Cat, Kimberly Cox, Brian Lucero, David Brian Martin, Larry Reinhardt-Meyer. The film is directed by Frank Miller.