“Killing Them Softly” thesp Scoot McNairy is set to reteam with co-star Brad Pitt in Steve McQueen’s period drama “Twelve Years a Slave,” which has also added rising thesp Ruth Negga (“The Samaritan”) to its ensemble.
Based on Solomon Northrup’s 1853 nonfiction tome, the New Regency pic stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as the author, a free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery on a Louisiana cotton plantation.
Pitt’s Plan B shingle is producing the film, which co-stars Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano and “Pariah” star Adepero Oduye.
McNairy will play a shrewd circus worker who masterminds the protag’s abduction, while Negga will play a runaway slave.
McQueen co-wrote the script with John Ridley (“Red Tails”). Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner will produce for Plan B.
Production will start at the end of June, and CAA is arranging financing for the pic in addition to repping its U.S. rights.
McNairy’s career has skyrocketed since starring in Gareth Edward’s low-budget hit “Monsters” and the indie “In Search of a Midnight Kiss,” which he also produced. In addition to Andrew Dominik’s “Killing Them Softly,” McNairy will be seen in Ben Affleck’s WB thriller “Argo” and Gus Van Sant’s Focus drama “Promised Land.” On the producing side, McNairy and manager John Pierce recently wrapped James Cox’s dramedy “Straight A’s” and are currently prepping G.J. Echternkamp’s “Frank and Cindy,” which will star Michael Pena and Rene Russo in the title roles.
Negga is an accomplished TV thesp who is coming off a breakout perf opposite Samuel L. Jackson in “The Samaritan.”
McNairy is repped by ICM, the Group and attorney Karl R. Austen. Negga is repped by Principal Entertainment, Lou Coulson Associates and the Agency.
