Exclusive: Free State of Jones trailer sees Matthew McConaughey lead a historic Civil War rebellion

The Oscar-winner plays Newt Knight, who led a rebellion of poor white farmers and runaway slaves against the Confederacy during the height of the Civil War

One of the many, magical gifts of cinema is the power to shed light on the forgotten stories of our history, to tell untold stories.

Newt Knight is no household name but, at the height of the Civil War, he led a rebellion of poor white farmers and runaway slaves against the Confederacy, a pocket of opposition deep in the Mississippi swamps, using the harsh landscape to their advantage though they were outgunned and outnumbered; his committed opposition to prejudice eventually seeing him establish the region's first mixed-race community.

Now, this incredible story comes to screen thanks to writer/director Gary Ross (The Hunger Games, Seabiscuit, Pleasantville), based on his decade-long independent research. Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey takes up the role of Knight, with Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Concussion, Belle) playing Newt's confidant and eventual common-law wife, Rachel.

Mahershala Ali (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1) also stars as Moses Washington, a runaway slave and prominent figure in the rebellion; and Keri Russell (Waitress, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) as his first wife, Serena Knight.

Here, Knight's tale is told alongside another key historic event, the 1948 trial of The State of Mississippi versus Davis Knight; a groundbreaking trial in the fight against the legislation prohibiting interracial marriage, Knight himself being the great-grandson of Newt and Rachel.

Free State of Jones hits UK cinemas 30 September.