Brad Pitt Joins Michael Fassbender in Steve McQueen’s “Twelve Years a Slave”
Two weeks ago, we learned that director Steve McQueen and BFF actor Michael Fassbender would join force again for an adaptation of Solomon Northup’s autobiography Twelve Years a Slave, which will star Chiwetel Ejiofor as the titular character. Well, add another big name to this extremely promising project as ScreenDaily reports that Brad Pitt has signed up to join the cast.
The story is based on the life of Solomon Northup, a free, married and educated black man living in 1853 New York who was lured by a job offer in Washington D.C. only to be kidnapped by two unscrupulous slave hunters and sold into slavery. After enduring twelve years of unimaginable degradation and abuse under various owners, he finally manages to be freed when a white Canadian carpenter named Samuel Bass (possibly Fassbender’s role) decided to smuggle his letters back to his wife to begin the legal process which would lead to his freedom.
There is no word on who Pitt will play, although we know he has been producing the project through his Plan B production company for several years. While McQueen and Fassbender have previously collaborated on Hunger and Shame, those titles remain mostly arthouse fares. Adding a big movie star of Brad Pitt’s caliber will allow this project to close financing and distribution deals with much less difficulty. Production is gearing up for an early 2012 start.
Overall, this looks like a lock to be excellent. The story is obviously tremendously endearing and the cast is absolutely excellent with the underrated Ejiofor finally getting a meaty role to sink his teeth into. I can’t wait to see what McQueen has in store for us.
Are you excited about “Twelve Years a Slave”?
16 Comments
Great! May this make the film much easier to produce and distribute. I hate that I can’t seem to get a hold of a copy of Hunger.
It seems to be available on Netflix. Else there is uh… less legal means ahha
I couldn’t be more excited about this film. Brad will make a worth addition.
I love McQueens work and this is set to be a cracker too.
As you say it is nice to see Ejiofor get some recognition, he is always good value
Yea, looking like a great movie in the making.
Brad Pitt is in it….so…no eagerness can be traced in me.
You took the words straight out of my mouth, Nov!
Happy for Ejiofor though, he should be getting more prominent roles.
You Pitt haters!
hehehe…sorry Castor, I couldn’t help it. Unless the movie is REALLY REALLY good (like se7en), I can’t help it.
@Ruth *high Five*
Shame has me hooked for the Fassbender/McQueen re-team, so “hey, why not team up again for a third film?” is enough to sell me. Ejiofor, however, makes the project even more special; he’s not in enough movies, especially lately, and this sounds like a plum role for him. Meanwhile, Pitt’s kind of like gravy here.
Agree Andrew. Chiwe should get a lot more shine. A fine actor.
Haven’t seen Shame but Hunger was a stunner. Also love the fact that an underrated actor like Ejiofor gets a chance to shine.
Exactly. Pitt’s not necessarily needed here, but on top of everything else this is an excellent cast.
Fassbender/McQueen – heck yeah!
I really need to see McQueen’s films. HUNGER is easily available on DVD, so I will definitely rent that, but who knows how long it will be before SHAME gets here, especially with it’s NC-17 rating!
I think it is an early December release, like 12/2 or something.
Somehow I missed this news until now. I still need to, you know, see a McQueen flick, but just those three actor together sounds like heavenly music to my ears.
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