Killam Forgoes Funny For "Slave"

Taran Killam has joined Steve McQueen's upcoming feature "Twelve Years A Slave" says Deadline.

Set in the mid-19th century, the film tells the true story of New Yorker Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who was kidnapped and shipped off into forced labor. Eventually he was rescued from a Louisiana cotton plantation in 1853.

Killam will play a traveling showman who abducts Ejiofor's character and brings him South.

Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt Ruth Negga Scoot McNairy and Paul Dano also star.

McQueen and John Ridley (”Bobby,” “Three Kings”) wrote the script.

Shooting kicks off this summer in New Orleans.