Warner Bros. this week announced a release date of Dec. 8 and additional cast members for the movie "We Are Marshall," now shooting in West Virginia before moving to Atlanta.

A week ago, the Post-Gazette's Milan Simonich reported that "We Are Marshall" will examine what happened to Huntington, W.Va., and Marshall University after the Nov. 14, 1970, plane crash that killed all 75 people aboard.

The victims, returning from a game at East Carolina University, included 37 members of Marshall's football team, eight coaches, 25 townspeople and five crew members.

The filmmaker known as McG, whose credits include both "Charlie's Angels" movies, will direct a screenplay by first-timer Jaime Linden. Film sports coordinator Mark Ellis, who worked on last year's remake of "The Longest Yard," will choreograph the football action.

The cast will include Matthew McConaughey, David Strathairn and Matthew Fox.

McConaughey, now on screen alongside Terry Bradshaw in "Failure to Launch," is playing coach Jack Lengyel, who rebuilt the football team after the tragedy and, in the process, helped the community to heal. Some residents had suggested the program be disbanded.

Strathairn, whose uncanny turn as Edward R. Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck" was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar, will portray the university president who tries to rebuild the school's spirit.

"Lost" star Fox will portray assistant coach Red Dawson, who gave up his seat on the doomed flight to another member of the squad.

Anthony Mackie and Kate Mara also will appear.