Lionsgate moves drama starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, avoiding clash with Mandela biopic.

The Railway Man will now open across the UK on Jan 10, through Lionsgate. It recently received its UK premiere in London’s Leicester Square, following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

It was originally slated for release in the first week of the year and its move will see it avoid clashing with Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which is set for release on Jan 3.

The Railway Man is directed by Jonathan Teplitzky from a script by Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson, who also produces with Chris Brown and Bill Curbishley.

It is based on the best-selling memoir of Eric Lomax, a British Army officer who is tormented as a prisoner of war at a Japanese labour camp during World War II.  Decades later, Lomax discovers that the Japanese interpreter he holds responsible for much of his treatment is still alive and sets out to confront him.

The film stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, with Jeremy Irvine, Stellan Skarsgård, Sam Reid, Tanroh Ishida and Hiroyuki Sanada.

An Australia/UK co-production, the film is presented by Screen Australia in association with Silver Reel, Screen Queensland, Creative Scotland, Screen NSW and Lionsgate UK. It is an Andy Paterson, Pictures In Paradise, Trinifold Production in association with Davis Films and Latitude Media.