Steve McQueen has revealed that it was his wife who gave him the idea to make a true story about slavery.
McQueen is back in the director's chair with 12 Years A Slave - which is based on the book by Solomon Northup about his time in slavery after he was kidnapped in New York.
And McQueen says that he was totally engrossed in his story, but it was his wife that gave him the book.
Speaking to Flicks and Bits the director said: "As soon as she put it in my hand I wouldn’t let it go. It was just remarkable. Each turn of the page was a revelation. I couldn’t believe... when you have an idea and you see it in your hand as a book, it was just amazing.
"I was upset with myself that I didn’t know about this book and then I realized no one I knew about it. No one. Then that’s when I realized, 'Yes, I want to make this book into a film.'
"And that’s when Plan B came on-board and things got rolling, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, all those guys."
This is the third feature film for McQueen, after making a name for himself with Hunger and Shame.
12 Years A Slave has been whipping up a storm on the festival circuit and is already being tipped as a possible Oscar contender.
12 Years A Slave is released 24th January.
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