First images from Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper starring Bradley Cooper

We finally have the first AMERICAN SNIPER images for director Clint Eastwood’s upcoming drama. While it’s not much, it’s enough to remind people that there are more than just Hobbits coming to theaters this December. You can see how much Bradley Cooper has transformed himself for the role putting on 40lbs of muscle to play U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. The first trailer should be here very soon, but if you’re not already sold on this great story check out the full synopsis below.

U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms.  His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname “Legend.”  However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents.  He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world.  Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to “leave no man behind.”  But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.

Cooper (who is also producing) has been passionate in telling Kyle’s story; he acquired the rights to his autobiography before his death, and say this movie is a "character study" of a man who took an honorary discharge in order to come home and put together his family life. This should make for some engaging viewing and ranked as one of our anticipated movies of the fall. The movie also stars Sienna Miller, Jake McDorman, Luke Grimes, Navid Negahban, and Keir O’Donnell.

AMERICAN SNIPER opens in limited release on December 25th, 2014.