How do you follow a breakthrough performance that was name dropped by Meryl Streep and nominated for an Indie Spirit Award? How about doing a movie with Michael Fassbender, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Brad Pitt? Welcome to the big time Adepero Oduye.
The Playlist has learned that the “Pariah” star is now in negotiations for the female lead in Steve McQueen‘s “Twelve Years A Slave.” Financing for the pic is firming up and it will be yet another bold drama from the British filmmaker. Based on a true story, 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 (Oduye’s role we presume), she hires a Northern lawyer (Pitt) to fight for her husband’s freedom.
What can we say? Oduye gave a vital performance in “Pariah” and McQueen was clearly taken with her turn as well. ‘Twelve Years’ is putting together one heckuva cast for a project that should see everyone involved return to the awards season circuit once again. Shooting is gearing up to take place this summer. Oduye is repped by ICM.
