"The Kite Runner" Premiere

Khalid Abdalla arrives at Paramount Classic's premiere of "The Kite Runner" on Dec. 4, 2007 in Los Angeles. Abdalla stars as Amir, a wealthy boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, forever burdened with guilt after betraying his friend Hassan. "The Kite Runner" chronicles Amir's life against the backdrop of recent Afghan history.

From left, actors Shaun Toub, Atossa Leoni and producer Bill Hornberg smile for the cameras at the premiere of "The Kite Runner." The film, based on a novel by Khaled Hosseini, opens Dec. 14, 2007.

Actress Atossa Leoni poses for the cameras at "The Kite Runner" premiere. Leoni plays Soraya, an Afghan woman who lives in Fremont, California. She is Amir's motivation to return to California.

Author Khalid Hosseini, left, and director Marc Forster pose at "The Kite Runner" premiere. "The Kite Runner" was Hosseini's first novel and the third top U.S. seller for 2005.

Writer David Benioff smiles at "The Kite Runner" premiere. Benioff adapted Khalid Hosseini's best-selling novel for the screen. He also adapted the blockbuster "Troy."

Actor Will Ferrell and his wife, Viveca, attend "The Kite Runner" premiere.

From left, stars Khalid Abdalla, Atossa Leoni and Shaun Toub pose during the "The Kite Runner" premiere. The movie was slated for a Nov. 2, 2007 release but the release was pushed back to Dec. 14, 2007 out of concern for the safety of the young actors in the film.

Mary McDonnell attends "The Kite Runner" premiere. McDonnell is best known for her Oscar-nominated part in "Dances with Wolves" and, more recently, as President Laura Roslin in "Battlestar Galactica."

Actor Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka, take a moment for the cameras at "The Kite Runner" premiere on Dec. 4, 2007.

Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo shines at the Dec. 4, 2007 screening of "The Kite Runner." The Iranian-American actress appeared in "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "The Nativity Story," though not "The Kite Runner."

Socialite Kat Kramer smiles for the cameras at "The Kite Runner" premiere on Dec. 4, 2007.

Paramount Classic's President John Lesher, left, and comedian Will Ferrell banter at "The Kite Runner" premiere.

Actor Homayon Ershadi arrives at "The Kite Runner" premiere. The Iranian actor plays Amir's father, who is disappointed by his son's bookish interests.

Director Julie Taymor arrives at "The Kite Runner" premiere. Taymor directed "The Lion King" on Broadway.

DreamWorks' Mark Sourian, Adam Goodman, Stacey Snider and producer Bennett Walsh pause for the press at "The Kite Runner" premiere.

From left, actors Khalid Abdalla, Atossa Leoni and Shaun Toub pose at "The Kite Runner" premiere. The movie charts an Afghan family from the fall of the nation's monarchy through the Soviet invasion and the Taliban regime.