The Gambler is directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Escapist) and written by William Monahan (The Departed, Edge of Darkness). The film follows a UCLA literature professor (Mark Wahlberg) with a gambling problem who runs afoul of gangsters, until borrowing from his girlfriend (Brie Larson) and mother (Jessica Lange) eventually gets the gangsters after the ones he loves, putting all of them in danger. John Goodman, Michael K. Williams and Richard Schiff also star in the film which Paramount Pictures has given a last-minute, awards season qualifying release on December 19th later this winter.