The first in a series of posters for Ben Stiller’s latest directorial effort The Secret Life of Walter Mitty has been released, along with a small batch of new images from the film.  In Walter Mitty, Stiller stars as the eponymous LIFE Magazine photo editor/negative asset manager who, incapable of standing up for himself in the real world, retreats to a fantasy where he becomes his poised, confident opposite.  This poster highlights the more fantastical aspects of the film, and Walter Mitty continues to look like a possible surprise Oscar contender—should the full film deliver the goods, of course.

Hit the jump to check out the poster and images.  The pic also stars Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Sean Penn, Patton Oswalt, and Shirley MacLaine.  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty opens December 25th.

Via Yahoo! Movies.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty:

Ben Stiller directs and stars in THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, James Thurber’s classic story of a day-dreamer who escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. When his job along with that of his co-worker (Kristen Wiig) are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.