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In addition to an already impressive cast including Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Paul Dano, Adepero Oduye, Scoot McNairy, Ruth Negga and Taran Killam, Sherlock himself, Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on to Steve McQueen’s latest project titled Twelve Years a Slave.

This is certainly an exciting announcement, and if you’ve ever seen Sherlock on BBC or checked out his role in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, you’d understand why. Cumberbatch is quickly growing to A-list status in Hollywood, and if he continues to snag roles like this, he’ll most assuredly be looked at by the Academy come awards season.The film is based on the true story of a slave who becomes freed, then tricked back into slavery during the 1800s. Cumberbatch reportedly is playing the plantation owner who buys the slave the second time around.

Production is set to begin the end of June, with a 2013 release likely.