So how much more praise can be heaped upon Benedict Cumberbatch? The Sherlock star seems to be everywhere lately, and earning raving acclaim for every single move he makes. I'm not complaining, as he was excellent in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but rather wasted in War Horse. He'll turn up as the villain(who is apparently not Khan) in JJ Abrams' Star Trek sequel, and has a major part in a little film you might have heard of called The Hobbit. That's all well and good, but now he's set for something even better, joining the cast of Steve McQueen's Twelve Years A Slave.
The 1853 memoir tells the story of Solomon Northrop, a freed slave who was tricked by a phony job offer and found himself kidnapped and sent back into slavery for the titular twelve years. Chiwetel Ejiafor is playing Northrop, with Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Adepero Oduye, Scoot McNairy, Ruth Negga, Paul Dano, and Taran Killam making up the incredible ensemble. Cumberbatch will play a plantation owner who buys Northop and becomes impressed by his intelligence and engineering skills.
I just started reading the book a few days ago, and haven't gotten to the really heartbreaking parts yet. There are a ton of characters even at an early stage of the novel, so don't be surprised if more big names emerge for roles. Clearly, this is a project that everyone wants to be a part of. Filming is set to begin in June. [Variety]
