Taking advantage of the recent move by The Great Gatsby, Universal has moved Les Miserables back two weeks into the Christmas Day slot.

The film was previously scheduled to open December 14 against The Hobbit, but will now open opposite Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, which is sure to have a smaller draw than Peter Jackson’s epic. Still, the Christmas release slate is quite packed. Opening on December 19 is Kathryn Bigelow’s hunt for bin Laden feature Zero Dark Thirty, with the December 21 slate including Judd Apatow’s This is 40, the Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor starrer The Impossible, and the actioner Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise.

Les Miserables, an adaptation of the classic Victor Hugo novel and famed musical, is directed by the 2011 Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech). The adaptation stars Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier, and Amanda Seyfried as Cosette.

Les Miserables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box office records everywhere in its 27th year. Helmed by The King’s Speech‘s Academy Award-winning director, Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman, Oscar-winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne, with further casting to be announced.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption — a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.

In December 2012, the world’s longest-running musical brings its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper’s sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale. With international superstars and beloved songs — including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and “On My Own” — Les Miserables, the show of shows, is now reborn as the cinematic musical experience of a lifetime.

Do you think it was a good move to push back ‘Les Miserables’?

Photo: Universal Pictures – Anne Hathaway in ‘Les Miserables’