I was just reading THIS profile of/interview with director Steve McQueen, mostly focused on his latest effort, the critically-acclaimed Shame, currently in theaters. 

Towards the end of it are a few minor details on his next 2 projects.

First, we know he's attached to direct an adaptation of 12 Years A Slave, the Solomon Northrup slave narrative, which will star Chiwetel Ejiofor (as the title character), Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt. The ScreenDaily piece says that this will indeed be McQueen's next feature film, with principal photography set to begin next summer, 2012. 

I wasn't aware of that production date prior to today (although that certainly doesn't mean it hadn't been previously announced and we just missed it); I figured it would happen eventually, but wasn't certain about when it would happen, whether next year, the year after, or the year after that. It would be the first time McQueen already seemed to have what would be his *next* project, but ended up shooting something else instead. I'm referring to the Fela project that was announced after his feature debut, Hunger, which was also to star Ejiofor. But that now seems to be in limbo, with Shame being his second feature. 

So, who knows, next summer may come around and 12 Years A Slave will be replaced with something else, for one reason or another (usually money). 

But, as of right now, it looks like summer 2012 is the films production start date, which means we should expect the completed project in 2013. May as well go ahead and put Chiwetel Ejiofor's name down for a 2014 Oscar nomination for BestActor.

Before that, however, the profile/interview says that McQueen will be having an exhibition of his other non-cinema related artwork at the Art Insitute of Chicago, as soon as he's done with the press tour for Shame. 

So, Chi-town folks, get ready for Mr McQueen to invade your city in early 2012, if he's not already there.

I couldn't immediately determine what exactly of his work this exhibit will include.