Wow. This powerful first trailer for 12 Years a Slave has Oscar bait written all over it, and honestly… I think it’ll gain a lot of steam when it comes time for awards nominations. Directed by Steve McQueen (Shame), the film is based off of the memoir of the same name written by Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841. Chiwetel Ejiofor (American Gangster) stars as Northup with Michael Fassbender (Shame) portraying Edwin Epps, Northup’s plantation owner. Also featured are Paul Dano (Looper), Brad Pitt (World War Z), Paul Giamatti (Sideways), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild), and others.
12 Years a Slave looks really good, but I’ll temper my expectations as to how good until the film is released into theaters on October 18th.