The US release date for The Fifth Estate has been brought forward, Digital Spy reported.

Benedict Cumberbatch stars in the biopic as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, alongside Daniel Brühl as his colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg.

Previously set for a November release in the US, The Fifth Estate will now open on October 11.

Directed by Bill Condon (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn), the drama centers on the relationship between Assange and Domscheit-Berg, which became increasingly fraught as WikiLeaks' influence grew.

Josh Singer's script is partially based on Domscheit-Berg's book, Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World's Most Dangerous Website.

Assange was initially hostile towards the film, describing it as "a massive propaganda attack". However, he has reportedly reconsidered his position since making contact with Cumberbatch via email.

The Fifth Estate is scheduled for release on January 1, 2014 in the UK.