12 Years a Slave is an upcoming historical drama film based on the autobiography Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The film is directed by Steve McQueen and written by McQueen and John Ridley. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Solomon Northup; Michael Fassbender also stars in the film. 12 Years a Slave is scheduled to be released on October 18, 2013.