Cruise's Valkyrie shifted again

Cruise (l) plays German colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in the film

Tom Cruise's World War II thriller Valkyrie has had its release date pushed back until 2009.

It is the second time the film has been postponed, according to trade magazine the Hollywood Reporter.

The film will now open on 13 February instead of 3 October, coinciding with the US President's Day holiday weekend.

"When an opening became available for President's Day weekend, we seized the opportunity," said MGM distribution president Clark Woods.

Universal recently pulled The Wolf Man out of that slot and into 3 April.

Scientology beliefs

Last December, Valkyrie was pulled from its original 4 July holiday weekend berth where it would have competed with the Angelina Jolie thriller Wanted.

Valkyrie, the true story of a German officer who tried to assassinate Hitler, has been hit by a number of setbacks during production.

Eleven extras were injured when they fell off the back of a truck during shooting in Berlin last year.

The German government initially banned the production from shooting on location at the Berlin site where the Valkyrie plot was hatched and the conspirators executed.

It later changed its mind after months of national debate that focused in part on Cruise's Scientology beliefs.

Some of the footage shot at the site was later damaged during processing, requiring re-shoots.

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