Chiwetel Ejiofor says he is thrilled at the response his new film 12 Years A Slave is getting so far.
Ejiofor is set to tell story of Solomon Northup in the new film by Steve McQueen. Ejiofor will play Northup: a free man who was tricked and sold into slavery.
The movie has been lighting up the festival circuit so far this autumn and the film is already being tipped as a major Oscar contender.
But the actor reveals that he is just happy that people are connecting with the story of Northup and talking about the film.
Speaking to MTV News the actor said: "You're working on this project and this thing you're sort of tinkering away at, and your hope is - your belief is - that people are going to be engaged by this story of Solomon Northup. And so when that starts to happen, people are getting engaged, it's exciting.
"I'm sort of thrilled to be showing this film to people, hearing their reactions, talking to people about it, and whatever happens down the line happens. It's been an extraordinary experience so far of getting this film out there."
12 Years A Slave sees Ejiofor work with director McQueen for the first time, in what looks set to be one of the biggest roles of his career to date.
Ejiofor leads an all star cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt and Benedict Cumberbatch.
12 Years A Slave is released 10th January.
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