Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions have bought the rights to the drama, Amazing Grace.

The film, directed by Michael Apted, is about historical slave trades; it's set to be the closing film of this year's Toronto Film Festival. In the film, Ioan Gruffudd stars as William Wilberforce, notes The Hollywood Reporter; he led the British Empire to end slavery at the turn of the 19th century with the help of slave trader-turned-abolitionist Rev. John Newton (Albert Finney) and his wife (Romola Garai).

Amazing Grace will be released February 23, 2007 - the 200th anniversary of the British Parliament's vote to abolish the slave trade. It will still make its world premiere in Toronto.