First Photos From Nat Turner Biopic ‘The Birth Of A Nation’

Ever since the forthcoming Nat Turner biopic The Birth Of A Nation was mentioned on the worldwide web, it’s stirred quite a fuss, that kept on going with casting announcement and filming updates. Now that Sundance announced its full slate, it also graced us with a first look at the film.

The Birth Of A Nation finds educated slave and preacher Nat Turner planning to set his people free, bringing a rebellion to a bunch of Virginia plantations and making masters afraid of God. Sundance’s director John Cooper said of the film: 

Parker creates a very singular piece of history that most people don’t know about and doesn’t shy away from the complicated nature of that. I think it’s going to be one of the real conversation pieces of the festival.

The upcoming Nat Turner drama is both written and directed by Nate Parker, who will also be portraying the main character. Alongside him, the film stars Aunjanue Ellis as Nancy Turner, Nat’s mother, Gabrielle Union as his wife Ester, Armie Hammer as a slaveowner Samuel Turner, Aja Naomi King, Penelope Ann Miller, Colman Domingo, Mark Boone Junior and Jackie Earle Haley among others. The Birth Of A Nation will make its debut in competition at Sundance. For the time being, you can take a look at a bunch of images from it below.