Future Films Heads Up: SELMA, the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight to secure voting rights for African-Americans

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Published on Friday, 31 October 2014 13:30

Last Updated on 08 December 2014

Monica Costa

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A new historical movie has been announced. SELMA, the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic struggle to secure voting rights for African-Americans, will open in cinemas on 6 February next year. 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of this pivotal moment in the US Civil Rights Movement.

The Cast

David Oyelowo, Tom Wilkinson, Carmen Ejogo, Tim Roth and Oprah Winfrey

SELMA stars British actor David Oyelowo (Middle of Nowhere, The Butler, A Most Violent Year) as Martin Luther King Jr. and is directed by Ava DuVernay (Middle of Nowhere).

The Plot

The film tracks a dangerous and terrifying three month campaign led by Martin Luther King Jr. which culminated in the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The campaign galvanized American public opinion and persuaded President Johnson to introduce the Voting Rights Act, protecting Africa-Americans’ right to vote.

The supporting cast of SELMA includes Tom Wilkinson (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Michael Clayton) as President Lyndon B. Johnson; Carmen Ejogo (Alex Cross, Ride And Glory) as Coretta King; Tim Roth (Arbitrage, The Incredible Hulk) as Governor George Wallace; and Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper.

SELMA’s screenplay was written by Paul Webb (Four Nights in Knaresborough). The film is produced by Oprah Winfrey (The Hundred-Foot Journey, Beloved) through Harpo Films;  Christian Colson through Cloud Eight Films (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire); and Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner for Plan B (12 Years A Slave).  Ava DuVernay, Paul Garnes, Cameron McCracken (for Pathé) and Nan Morales are executive producers. The behind-the-scenes creative team includes cinematographer Bradford Young (Mother of George, Middle of Nowhere), production designer Mark Friedberg (Noah, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Mildred Pierce), and costume designer Ruth E. Carter (Amistad, Malcolm X).

The film was shot in Atlanta, Georgia, and in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama.

 

The trailer