The Wait Grows Shorter For 'Twelve Years a Slave' As Steve McQueen Project Negotiates Final Financier

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by Charlie Schmidlin
April 10, 2012 11:42 AM
8 Comments

Two distinguished directors have both been hard at work putting together their Louisiana-based period films about slavery, and now the one least likely to have an Ennio Morricone sample, Steve McQueen's “Twelve Years a Slave,” appears to finally be ready to roll.

Deadline reports that New Regency, through its distribution deal with 20th Century Fox, is in final talks to become the latest co-financier on the project, an adaptation of the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup. The company will join Summit Entertainment, River Road's Bill Pohlad, and Brad Pitt's label Plan B as producers, and complete the financial puzzle on the $20 million film.

As previously reported, Pitt is a key player to McQueen's project, coming on not only as producer but star as well, in a smaller role. He joins Chiwetel Ejiofor and (who else) Michael Fassbender, all of whom have been circling the project since the release of “Shame” last year.

The plot follows Solomon Northup (Ejiofor), a free black man tricked into slavery by a pair of men posing as circus promoters, then transported south to Louisiana, where he's forced to live out his predicament alongside a plantation owner (Fassbender). After Northup is able to send word of his condition home to his wife, she hires a Northern lawyer (Pitt) to fight for her husband's freedom.

The talent behind the scenes and center stage on this project is staggering, and the compelling material, combined with McQueen's stunning ability to render human physical expression fascinating, makes this a must-see altogether.

Filming on “Twelve Years a Slave” begins late-June in Louisiana.

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More: Twelve Years A Slave, Michael Fassbender, Steve McQueen, Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor

8 Comments

| Reply
Nik Grape | April 11, 2012 10:03 AMReply

Excellent news. Ejiofor needs some light to shine on his immense talent. And McQueen is quickly becoming one of the best rising filmmakers out there.
G.T.O | April 11, 2012 1:42 AMReply

Can't wait!!
batty | April 10, 2012 5:48 PMReply

shit- u know what. With that smile fassbender would make a good joker.
BEF | April 10, 2012 1:56 PMReply

That is an impressive producer jigsaw piece.

Two scheming circus promoters? If Joseph Gordon Levitt were super prepared for his oily slave schemer in Django Unchained before he had to drop out and still needed a star-studded slavery epic with a fantastic filmmaker, he should just ease on in ... just a thought.
Tom | April 10, 2012 12:54 PMReply

The most important question: will this make a great double feature with Django Unchained?
Tom | April 10, 2012 12:52 PMReply

I'd be Fassy's slave anyday. ;)
Benjamin | April 10, 2012 12:17 PMReply

This sounds absolutely incredible.
Paul | April 10, 2012 12:14 PMReply

I thought Fassbender was gonna start shooting "The Counselor" in June. Is his role small as well