Chiwetel Ejiofor has described the emotional journey that his character goes on in 12 Years A Slave as an 'extraordinary challenge'.
The actor is set to play Solomon Northup in the new biopic film from director Steve McQueen. Based on Northup's biography, the movie tells of how he was sold into slavery in the 10th century.
While this is a story from the past, Ejiofor believes that the tale of Solomon will touch a contemporary audience.
Speaking to Flicks And Bits the actor said: "The story is so impactful and so real. The emotional journey was an extraordinary challenge, but it’s the kind of challenge where everything else kind of falls away and the character becomes an obsession. That obsession gave way to insight.
"I’ve thought a lot about this film in the context of how it applies to our contemporary world, and I think there is something about Solomon that stretches across time and place, that touches something very deep inside us all."
12 Years A Slave is a movie that has already been receiving critical acclaim while on the festival circuit, and has been tipped as a major Oscar contender.
The film sees Ejiofor team up with McQueen for the first time, while Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt are all also on the cast list.
12 Years A Slave is released 24th January 2014.
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