Universal Pictures is delaying the wide release of George Clooney's 1920's football pic "Leatherheads" from December 7th to April 4th next year.

Directed, co-written and toplined by Clooney, the romantic comedy involves the owner of a professional team who falls for the fiancee of one of his players.

The delay is due to Clooney's busy pre-strike schedule making him too busy to finish the film in time as additional filming is required.

"Leatherheads" new date makes it the seventh pic set for wide release that weekend.