Michael Fassbender, who took much acclaim for his first film, Hunger, alongside director Steve McQueen, recently re-teamed for a followup, the soon-to-be-released Shame. Now Variety reports that Fassbender and McQueen are set to work together again, this time for McQueen’s upcoming 12 Years a Slave, already set to feature Chiwetel Ejiofor in the lead.
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 while Fassbender’s role remains currently undisclosed.
You can read the full text of Northrup’s original writing online at Documenting the American South.
(Photo Credit: Ian Wilson/WENN.com)
