There was little doubt that Fox Searchlight had Oscar hopes for Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave. It seems ready-made for honors, with a star-studded cast and a harrowing true story set in historical context. And now we're seeing just how much confidence they have in the film, as they've moved it to a date that will put it right in the thick of the Oscar hunt.
Moving it up three months from its December perch to October 18th, the film now will have room to build a steady momentum until the end of the year. Deadline says that early test screenings have been described as "exuberant", and the studio is hoping their marketing campaign will be boosted by significant word-of-mouth, starting on the art house circuit before going wide release. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Quvenzhane Wallis, Dwight Henry, and Michael K. Williams, gaining attention should be the least of their concerns. The story is based on the autobiography by Solomon Northrup, a free black who was tricked by a phony job offer, kidnapped and put into slavery for twelve years.
On the total other side of the spectrum, Focus Features is finally getting the ball rolling on their adaptation of mommy smut novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, recently setting Sam Taylor-Johnson to direct. They're looking to bust up a few more households than the erotic novel probably already has, giving the film an August 1st 2014 release date, putting it squarely against Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Really, Focus?? So guys, prepare yourself for the inevitable date night battle to come.
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