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| “ | I cannot hear this! | „ |
| ~ William Ford unable to believe Solomon Northup when the latter insists that he is a free man, not a slave. |
William Ford is a fictionalized version of the historical figure of the same name who appears as a major antagonist in the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave. He is the first of Solomon Northup's two slave owners, and though he is kinder than the second owner, Edwin Epps, he ultimately proves himself a cowardly hypocrite who is unwilling to free or even protect Solomon for fear of losing his position in wealthy society.
He was portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, who also portrayed Sauron and Smaug in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy, Dormammu, Sinister Strange, and Strange Supreme in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shere Khan in Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, The Grinch in the 2018 film of the same name, Dr. Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein's Monster in the 2011 National Theatre Live adaptation of Frankenstein, Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate, Richard III in The Hollow Crown, and Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek: Into Darkness.
Biography[]
After Solomon Northup is kidnapped by slave traders, he is sold to William Ford, who in his own way takes a liking to Solomon (though he still expects him to work for him). When Solomon works hard and impresses Ford, the latter (who is by now aware that Solomon has musical talents), presents him with a violin as a gift. However, as tensions mount between Solomon and a white hired hand who also works on the plantation, Ford concludes that the only way to keep Solomon "safe" is to re-sell him. Solomon tries in vain to convince William Ford that he is a free man who has been kidnapped and sold into slavery, but Ford nonetheless proceeded to sell him to the more brutal and vicious slave-owner Edwin Epps in the end.
Trivia[]
- Benedict Cumberbatch and Chiwetel Ejiofor would work together again three years later in Doctor Strange, this time with Cumberbatch as the hero, and Ejiofor as a villain.
- Benedict Cumberbatch is from a wealthy family who owned and sold slaves in the 19th century; Cumberbatch has said that taking this role was his way of "making up" for his ancestors' crimes.