Steve McQueen will team with Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years A Slave, Variety reports.
Based on the 1853 autobiography of Solomon Northrup, 12 Years A Slave tells of Northrup’s tragic kidnapping in Washington DC in 1841 where, despite being born a free man, he was forced into slavery at a Louisiana cotton plantation until his rescue 12 years later.
McQueen co-wrote the adaptation with John Ridley (Red Tails) and will produce through Brad Pitt’s company, Plan B. Ejiofor, best known for roles in Children of Men and Redbelt, will portray Northrup.
McQueen, who made his debut with Hunger in 2008, reteamed with that film’s star, Michael Fassbender for the upcoming Shame.
You can read the full text of Northrup’s original writing online at Documenting the American South.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com / Documenting the American South)
