Paul Giamatti and Sarah Paulson have joined the growing cast of 12 Years a Slave for director Steve McQueen (Shame). Scoot McNairy, Ruth Negga, and Garret Dillahunt have also recently signed on.

The story centers on Solomon Northrup, a New York man who was kidnapped in Washington D.C. in 1841, and sold to a Louisiana plantation. He was a slave for 12 years before being rescued. Paul Giamatti is playing Freeman, who takes possession of the slaves after they arrive in New Orleans. Sarah Paulson is playing the jealous wife of Michael Fassbender's character.

Steve McQueen is directing from a screenplay he co-wrote with John Ridley, which is adapted from Northrup's 1853 non-fiction book. Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Bill Pohlad are producing.

No production schedule was released.