Will Smith’s ‘Concussion’ Drama Set for Christmas Release

Dave McNary / Variety /

Sony Pictures has dated its Will Smith drama “Concussion “ for Christmas Day — a week after the arrival of Disney-Marvel’s “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Smith porrays Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic neuropathologist who discovered football-related brain trauma in a player and fought to bring awareness to the public.

Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arliss Howard, Paul Reiser, David Morse and Albert Brooks also star.

Peter Landesman directs from his own script, based on the GQ article “Game Brain,” written by Jeanne Marie Laskas.

Producers are Ridley Scott, Giannina Facio, David Wolthoff, Larry Shuman and Elizabeth Cantillon ; executive producers are David Crockett and Michael Schaefer.

“Concussion” is the third title to land on Christmas following Paramount’s “Monster Trucks” and Fox’s Jennifer Lawrence-David O. Russell project “Joy.”

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