Here's a look at the latest release dates:

  • Selma - Ava DuVernay's Civil Rights picture starring David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King, Jr. opens in limited release on Christmas Day, with a theater expansion on January 9, 2015.
  • The Homesman - Writer-director-star Tommy Lee Jones' Western drama also starring Hilary Swank and Miranda Otto will open on November 7th.
  • Spare PartsSean McNamara's film that follows a team of high school students participating in an underwater robotics competition will open January 16, 2015.

Hit the jump for more on each picture.

In addition to the Christmas Day 2015 release date news, which qualifies the film for the 2014 Oscars race, we've also received an updated casting list.  The film stars David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr., Tom Wilkinson as Lyndon Baines Johnson, Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King, Andre Holland as Andrew Young, Omar J. Dorsey as James Orange, Alessandro Nivola as John Doar, Dylan Baker as J. Edgar Hoover, Giovanni Ribisi as Lee White, Tessa Thompson as Diane Nash, Colman Domingo as Ralph Abernathy, Stephen Root as Al Lingo, Jeremy Strong as James Reeb, with Tim Roth as George Wallace, and Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper, an elderly woman and visible leader amongst the civil rights protesters in Selma who tried to register to vote and was unfairly denied by the sheriff.  That's quite the cast, so there's every chance that a number of them could end up competing with each other for some Oscar hardware.

In a press release from Saban Films and Roadside Attractions, it was announced that The Homesman will open November 7th.  The first acquisition for Haim Saban's entertainment wing also stars Grace Gummer, Sonja Richter, Hailee Steinfeld, James Spader, and Meryl Streep.  The story centers on a claim-jumping rascal (Jones) and a frontierswoman (Swank) as they escort three insane women from Nebraska to Iowa and battle the harsh elemental conditions of the prairie.  Check out the trailer for The Homesman and some of the film's early images here.

Finally, from Box Office Mojo, comes word of Lionsgate's release date for Spare Parts.  Starring George Lopez, the film tells the true story of four Hispanic high school students who start a robotics club and work their way up to challenge the reigning champs, MIT.  Jaime Lee Curtis, Marisa Tomei, Alexa PenaVega and Carlos Pena also star.

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