Steve McQueen: Why I Made 12 Years a Slave…

Before 12 Years a Slave became one of the most acclaimed historical films of the 21st century, director Steve McQueen and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender sat down with Charlie Rose on October 10, 2013, for one of the most thoughtful conversations ever recorded about the making of the film. Airing just days before the film’s theatrical release, the interview offers a remarkable look inside the creative philosophy that shaped a work now widely regarded as one of the most historically authentic cinematic depictions of American slavery.

Throughout the discussion, McQueen explains why he believed there was a profound absence in the history of cinema—a lack of films willing to confront slavery honestly and without sentimentality. He recounts discovering Solomon Northup’s 1853 memoir through his wife, describing it as a firsthand account comparable in importance to Anne Frank’s diary. Rather than creating another fictional story set during slavery, McQueen became determined to bring Northup’s extraordinary testimony to the screen with as much historical integrity as possible.

Chiwetel Ejiofor provides equally compelling insight into portraying Solomon Northup, emphasizing that the story is ultimately one of preserving humanity under unimaginable oppression. He reflects on Northup’s dignity, resilience, and refusal to allow hatred to consume him, arguing that these qualities became the foundation of his survival. Michael Fassbender discusses the challenge of portraying Edwin Epps not as a one-dimensional villain but as a deeply flawed and morally corrupted human being whose contradictions reveal the destructive nature of slavery itself.

The interview also explores the film’s production, including Steve McQueen’s collaboration with screenwriter John Ridley, the support of Plan B Entertainment, the decision to film on location in Louisiana, the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Patssey, and the filmmakers’ commitment to depicting the brutality of slavery without softening its realities for audiences. Perhaps most memorably, McQueen explains that if filmmakers are going to make a film about slavery, they cannot turn away from its violence or its psychological devastation. To understand how the institution endured for centuries, viewers must be willing to confront what it actually was.

For readers of MoviesToHistory.com, this conversation is especially valuable because it reinforces many of the qualities that make 12 Years a Slave one of the most historically accurate films ever made. Rather than focusing solely on awards or performances, the interview reveals the extensive thought that went into adapting Solomon Northup’s memoir, respecting the historical record, and preserving the humanity of those who endured one of the darkest chapters in American history.

Watch the complete Charlie Rose interview at the link below, then continue reading our analysis to see how the filmmakers’ intentions translated into one of the most historically faithful portrayals of slavery ever brought to the screen.

12 Years a Slave is available now with a subscription to Hulu…