12 Years A Slave is one of the most anticipated films of the fall season and is expected to be a major competitor at the Oscars. The first trailer for the film hit the web on Monday and it looks like the film will live up to the hype.
Directed by Hunger and Shame director Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave features Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, a free African American who was born in New York. He has a family and impresses socialites with his violin playing. But he is betrayed, beaten and sold into slavery. The film follows his journey as he tries to survive as a slave, meeting kindness and cruelty in surprising places.
Ejiofor’s supporting cast is filled with A-list talent like Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt, who is credited as a co-producer. Quvenzhané Wallis, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, and Lupita Nyong’o also star.
The trailer shows that this is likely a film that will be an Oscar contender and may provide Ejiofor with a breakout role. He has had roles in American Gangster, Salt and 2012.
12 Years A Slave is scheduled for limited release on Oct. 18 as part of a platform release, meaning that it will slowly roll out in wide release throughout the fall.
image: Trailer