WATCH: The big boys come out to play in The Big Short flick!

New York - Hollywood's awards season has a surprise new entry: The Big Short.

If you watch the trailer you'll know why Paramount Pictures on Tuesday announced that it will release the Adam McKay-directed adaptation of Michael Lewis' book in limited release on 11 December. (A wider release will follow on 23 December)

The film boasts a star-studded cast of Christian Bale, Brad Pitt, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling that could all easily be Oscar contenders. It tells the true story of a handful of people who got rich by betting against banks and predicting the financial crash of 2008.

The Big Short will first premiere at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles on 12 November.

Watch the trailer here: