A series of Italian posters for 12 Years A Slave have been roundly criticised for appearing to focus upon the film’s white cast members.
A poster featuring a prominent image of Brad Pitt, a supporting player at best, is at the centre of the controversy, with leading man Chiwetel Ejiofor hardly getting a promotional look in.
The poster appeared on one blogger’s Tumblr page , accompanied by the comment, “I don’t remember Brad Pitt being the protagonist of the film or having such a pivotal role in the story to stay in the middle of the poster…”
Another poster gives Michael Fassbender a similarly prominent billing, while once again, Ejiofor remains little more than a footnote.
Directed by Steve McQueen and co-starring Michael K. Williams, Quvenzhané Wallis and Scoot McNairy, 12 Years A Slave will open in the UK on 10 January 2014.
