The World War II thriller “Valkyrie,” which Tom Cruise stars in and exec produces through United Artists, has been postponed for a Feb. 13, 2009 release, in order to benefit from an unexpectedly cleared Presidents Day weekend.

Sony’s “The Pink Panther 2” was moved for a Feb. 6 release while Universal’s horror thriller “The Wolfman” was shifted from Feb. 13 to April 3 and United Artists and MGM considered the cleared spot just right for the wide release of “Valkyrie.”

“When an opening became available for Presidents Day weekend, we seized the opportunity,” MGM distribution president Clark Woods said, as quoted by the Hollywood Reporter. “Having seen a lot of the film and how great it is going to play once it's finished, moving into a big holiday weekend is the right move.”

This is the second release for the rejuvenated United Artists, which Cruise and longtime producing partner Paula Wagner took over in November 2006. The first release was the Robert Redford-directed “Lions for Lambs,” which starred Cruise and failed at the box office, earning less that $15 million domestically. Critical reception was mild to positive.

Cruise and Wagner’s plan is to release four films a year with budgets exceeding $40 million.

“Valkyrie” is directed by Bryn Singer (“The Usual Suspects”) and is based on a true story: the July 20 Plot of German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Cruise portrays the eye patch-wearing leader of the plot, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. The cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Christian Berkel, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson.

The film was originally scheduled for a June release and delayed to October, in order for additional filming to be done.  

UA also has several films in development, but it is unlikely any of those will be completed before February, per the Hollywood Reporter. One of its major projects, the Oliver Stone My Lai Massacre drama “Pinkville” was canceled during the lengthy writers strike.

“Valkyrie” has had a rough time already, what with an initially negative response in Germany, difficulty in obtaining permission to film there and an accident on location which led to the injury of several extras.