Fox Searchlight Pictures has released the second clip from British director Steve McQueen’s historical drama 12 Years a Slave.
The film is based on Solomon Northup’s autobiography of the same name, and tells the tale of an educated and married black man living in 1853 New York who is kidnapped and forced into slavery.
The film stars one of the most underrated actors around Chiwetel Ejiofor in the lead role, with a supporting cast that screams Oscar including Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Quvenzhane Wallis, Sarah Paulson, Paul Dano, Scoot McNairy, Garrett Dillahunt, Alfre Woodard, Dwight Henry, Michael K. Williams, and Brad Pitt!
12 Years a Slave is out in the US on December 27th, with Ireland following on January 10th.
12 Years a Slave is based on an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender) as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) forever alters his life.