In a move to bolster its awards season status, Netflix has bought worldwide rights to Cary Fukunaga’s African war drama “Beasts of No Nation,” starring Idris Elba, for its global streaming service and theatrical release. Netflix paid nearly $12 million for the rights.

According to insiders, the media distributor is planning a strong Oscar push for the feature, which is based on the bestselling novel by Uzodinma Iweala. The story follows the journey of a boy who is forced to join a group of soldiers in an unnamed West African country.