'Fury' Release Date Moved Up: Sony WWII Tank Epic Stars 'World War Z' Brad Pitt And 'Transformers; Shia LaBeouf: Will Close BFI London Film Festival

Sony Pictures has moved up the release of its Brad Pitt World War II pic "Fury" from Nov. 14 to Oct. 17.

The tank drama, co-starring Shia LaBeouf and Logan Lerman, is directed by David Ayer and said to be an awards contender. The date change also puts "Fury" much closer to the Telluride or Toronto film festivals, which is where Pitt's "12 Years a Slave" launched last year before going on to win big at the Oscars. So far, however, neither festival has confirmed the film.

"Fury" will close the BFI London Film Festival. Pitt and the film's writer and director David Ayer have been confirmed to attend the closing night gala at London's Leicester Square, with simultaneous screenings taking place in cinemas across the UK.

"Fury is a resounding cinematic achievement," said BFI London Film Festival Director Clare Stewart. "Rarely is a film so successful at balancing the human drama of war with such thrilling action sequences. We looking forward to welcoming LFF alumni David Ayer and Brad Pitt to London as we draw the 58th BFI London Film Festival to a monumental close."

Ayer said "It's a true pleasure to be returning to England, where we shot the film - the fields of Oxfordshire and Bovingdon Airfield in Hertfordshire were our home for 12 weeks last year, so it's something of a homecoming for us to present the movie at its European premiere," he said. "I'm thrilled that festival audiences will be among the first in Europe to see it."

"Fury" sees Pitt play a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy, in command of a U.S. Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a mission behind enemy lines as the allies make their final push against Germany in 1945. Produced by QED International's Bill Block, alongside Ayer, Ethan Smith and John Lesher, the film also stars Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal, Michael Pena, Jason Isaacs and Scott Eastwood.

The WWII drama takes the place of the Seth Rogen comedy "The Interview," which was slotted to bow on Oct. 17 but recently moved to Christmas Day. Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's "Birdman" also opens on that date in limited release.