12 Years a Slave: The Complete Screenplay

Dive deeper into Steve McQueen’s history-making, Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave with this one-of-a-kind edition of the screenplay—publishing in time for Black History Month.

Often described as the greatest movie on slavery ever made, more than a decade on, it feels more potent than ever. Based on the real-life memoir 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, director Steve McQueen knew he found his inspiration as soon as he read the book. As the film tells it, in the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner (Michael Fassbender), he also finds unexpected kindness from another (Benedict Cumberbatch), as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity. Then in the 12th year of the disheartening ordeal, a chance meeting with an abolitionist from Canada (Brad Pitt) changes Solomon's life forever. The film also stars Lupita Nyong’o in her first acting role, for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

A FILM OF FIRSTS: 12 Years a Slave became the first film directed and produced by a Black filmmaker (Steve McQueen) and also the first written by a Black screenwriter (John Ridley) to win Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Lupita Nyong’o is the first Kenyan and Mexican actor to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT: With access to New Regency’s and River Road’s archives, our script book will contain the final shooting script, beautiful film stills, and commentary on key scenes, making this the ideal collectors’ item for both Steve McQueen fans and cinema enthusiasts.

CREATE A MOVIE IN YOUR MIND: Beautifully rendered film stills combine with the screenplay to make movie magic in your mind’s eye.