Fox Searchlight is set to lock in a $17.5 million deal to purchase The Birth of a Nation, the epic drama about Nat Turner’s historic slave revolt as reported by Variety.  The film starring Nate Parker as Turner, received a dynamic response following its premiere at Sundance Film Festival.

“The deal is the richest in Sundance history.” *mic drop* *tosses confetti* *praise clap* *misty copeland twirl* https://t.co/OQnPMKShcR

— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) January 26, 2016

Parker also wrote and directed The Birth of a Nation, using his own money to finance the project.  In what’s being called the “richest” deal in the film festival’s history,  Fox Searchlight beat out The Weinstein Company, Sony, and Netflix in bidding.

A trailer has not been released. Gabrielle Union, Armie Hammer, Jackie Earle Haley, Aja Naomi King, and Mark Boone Jr. all star alongside Parker in the gripping real life story about the 1831 slave rebellion.

via Variety:

“‘The Birth of a Nation’ exists to provoke a serious debate about the necessity and limitations of empathy, the morality of retaliatory violence, and the ongoing black struggle for justice and equality in this country. It earns that debate and then some.”

Okay, Nate. We see you!

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