Fox Searchlight’s potential Oscar contender The Birth of a Nation now has an official trailer. The studio snagged the theatrical release rights following the film’s successful premiere at the Sundance Film Festival where its multiple wins kicked off the word-of-mouth campaign for Oscar attention. Nate Parker wrote, directed, and stars in the dramatic film which will be opening in theaters on October 7, 2016. The cast also includes Armie Hammer, Mark Boone Jr., Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis, Dwight Henry, Aja Naomi King, Esther Scott, Roger Guenveur Smith, Gabrielle Union, Penelope Ann Miller and Jackie Earle Haley.
The Plot: Set against the antebellum South, The Birth of a Nation follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates and uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.
Watch The Birth of a Nation trailer:
