Just as film geeks were putting the finishing touches on their early Oscar predictions, the economy drama The Big Short dropped into the race with its first trailer and an announced release date of December 23rd soon after its indie premiere at the closing of the AFI Fest on November 12th.

The Big Short is an adaptation of the true life story and novel by Michael Lewis about the men who bet against the banks in 2005 just before the economic crash, making themselves millionaires. Christian Bale (The Fighter), Steve Carell (Foxcatcher) Ryan Gosling (Gangster Squad), and Brad Pitt (World War Z) all star. The film also features performances by Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler), Karen Gillan (TV’s Dr. Who), Melissa Leo (The Fighter), Max Greenfield (TV’s New Girl), and Selena Gomez (Spring Breakers).

The film was directed and co-written by Will Ferrell’s Gary Sanchez Productions partner Adam McKay (The Other Guys, Step Brothers) along with Charles Randolph (Love & Other Drugs).

It will be competing at the box office against the likes of David O. Russell‘s Joy, the Point Break remake, the McKay produced Daddy’s Home as well as the likely continued dominance of Star Wars Episode VII, but the film world will most likely be focusing on how it holds up in the awards discussion considering the countless films already in the running thus far.