After releasing Stoker earlier this month, Fox Searchlight is set to bow Trance next week and the distributor is keeping busy on the acquisition side as well. News hit last night that they picked up Wes Anderson‘s The Grand Budapest Hotel for a possible year-end release, and now we’ve got another update that sees them reteaming with another talented director.
Searchlight revealed today that they are getting back in business with Shame director Steve McQueen for his period drama Twelve Years a Slave. With test screenings recently held, we thought this one may show up at Cannes this year, but that may not be the case. Sadly, most audiences will have to wait until the very end of 2013 to see it, as Searchlight has set a December 27th bow, which hints a bit closer to a fall festival debut.
Based on Solomon Northup‘s 1853 autobiography, the film follows Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who was kidnapped and put in a slave pen, paving the way for a grueling life under numerous owners. The ensemble is stellar, also including Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Alfre Woodard, Garret Dillahunt, Lupita Nyong’o, Adepero Oduye, Scoot McNairy, Sarah Paulson, Michael K. Williams, Chris Chalk, Dwight Henry, Quvenzhane Wallis and Brad Pitt. Check back for updates on this highly-anticipated project as they arrive.
Are you looking forward to see Slave at the end of the year?