Sony sets ‘Concussion’ for Christmas, ‘Ghostbusters’ for summer 2016
Sony Pictures has set release dates for two of its star-powered films. “Concussion,” the fact-based football drama starring Will Smith, will hit theaters Christmas Day, and “Ghostbusters,” the female-led reboot starring Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, is due July 22, 2016.
Based in part on Jeanne Marie Laskas’ GQ article “Game Brain,” “Concussion” stars Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the real-life forensic neuropathologist who discovered, named and raised awareness of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain syndrome that has afflicted professional football players.
Written and directed by Peter Landesman (“Parkland”), the film also stars Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. “Concussion” is slated to open against the David O. Russell drama “Joy,” with Jennifer Lawrence; the Alejandro G. Inarritu thriller “The Revenant,” with Leonardo DiCaprio; and the live-action, computer-animated hybrid adventure “Monster Trucks.”
The supernatural comedy “Ghostbusters,” meanwhile, is to star McCarthy and Wiig as well as “Saturday Night Live” players Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon. Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids,” “The Heat”) is directing from a script by him and Katie Dippold (“The Heat”).
It’s currently scheduled to match up against Guy Ritchie’s “King Arthur” and Lionsgate’s “Power Rangers” reboot.
Follow @ogettell for movie news
Only good movies
Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
