The Weinstein Co. will release the Scott Rudin-produced postwar tale The Reader this year, making it a contender in the Oscar race.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rudin and Weinstein said in a joint statement on Sunday that Stephen Daldry's period love story told against the backdrop of a war-crimes trial would come out on Dec. 12, in keeping with the plan that for months Weinstein had supported and Rudin had resisted.

"We are in complete agreement on the date we have chosen," the pair said in the statement. "Working together, we developed a plan to extend the postproduction schedule in order to give Stephen Daldry the additional time he needs to successfully complete the film."

The movie automatically becomes an awards priority for Weinstein, who has been eager for an Oscar candidate. The picture, which stars Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, enters a season in which there are few frontrunners and a number of top hopefuls that have yet to be seen.

The decision also brings to an end a release-date skirmish that had centered on two issues. There had been questions whether the movie, which is currently in post, could be done in time for approaching awards deadlines, as well as opposition from Rudin, who already had two other awards movies out this year and was lobbying for an '09 release.

In addition, Winslet had said she was not sure she would do media for The Reader while she promoted another awards candidate, Revolution Road, which is also produced by Rudin and is directed by her husband, Sam Mendes.

The compromise comes after days of negotiations between the two men and results in what sources say is added financial and staffing support from Weinstein to allow Daldry to finish the movie on time for a December release.

The Reader was released December 10th, 2008 and stars Ralph Fiennes, Jeanette Hain, David Kross, Kate Winslet, Susanne Lothar, Alissa Wilms, Florian Bartholomäi, Friederike Becht. The film is directed by Stephen Daldry.