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Director Steven Spielberg’s “The Adventure of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn” is set to hit North American theatres on Dec. 23, 2011, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The 3-D motion-capture feature will premiere to audiences in other parts of the world even earlier, with an international rollout scheduled to begin in late October of that year.

Filming began in January for the project, which is inspired by the famous character introduced by Belgian illustrator Herge in 1929. Jamie Bell stars as the titular globetrotting young reporter, while his “Defiance” co-star Daniel Craig plays the villainous pirate Red Rackham.

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Jamie Bell and Daniel Craig play brothers in the just-released war drama “Defiance,” but they will butt heads as enemies in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming Tintin movie.

Bell, known for roles in movies including “Billy Elliot” and “Jumper,” has signed on to play the titular globe-trotting reporter, based on the beloved character by Belgian cartoonist Hergé, in “The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn.”

Craig, who has starred in such movies as “Layer Cake” and, of course, the latest Bond films, will portray the nefarious pirate Red Rackham.

The cast is rounded out by Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Mackenzie Crook, among others.

Spielberg will direct, as well as co-produce with “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson.

“Secret of the Unicorn,” which is scheduled for a 2011 release, is just the first in a planned series of films revolving around Tintin. Jackson is slated to direct the second film, with a third film to potentially follow.

Tintin made his debut in 1929 courtesy of Georges Remi, who went by the pen name Hergé. The cartoonist went on to publish two dozen books about the intrepid reporter and his canine companion Snowy.

The series has been translated into 70 languages and has sold over 200 million copies worldwide.