SELMA casting news
Lee Daniels Hires Brit Actor David Oyelowo To Play MLK in 'Selma'

March 17, 2010

After numerous actors auditioned for the role, 'Precious' director Lee Daniels has gone overseas and cast British actor David Oyelowo to play Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his upcoming film, 'Selma.'

The Hollywood Reporter states that Hugh Jackman is on board as a racist sheriff in the tale revolving around the historic marches staged by King in 1965 in Selma, Alabama. The part of Alabama Governor George Wallace remains up for grabs. It was reported earlier that Robert De Niro was to play the role, but that doesn't seem to be the case yet.

Oyelowo, who was last seen opposite Jill Scott in the premiere of HBO's critically acclaimed series 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency,' was also in the TV version of 'A Raisin in the Sun' with Sean Combs and Sanaa Lathan. His upcoming films include playing Muddy Waters in 'Who Do You Love?' and stars in George Lucas' 'Red Tails' with Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding Jr.

At the current moment, Daniels is still working out the financing for the film.



"It's a moment in time in Martin Luther King and LBJ's [life] around the signing of the civil rights [legislation]," Daniels told Comingsoon.net's Ed Douglas in October. "It's a snapshot of the march. It's really Lyndon Johnson's story. Martin Luther King is a part of it, but it's really the arc of a man that starts out as a racist, who is forced to look at himself in the mirror and then ultimately side with King. It's really a journey of a white cat and how he sneers at tradition."

Daniels recently garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Director for his film, 'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire.' He won the Independent Spirit Award for his dPrecious Lee Daniels DVDirection of the gritty drama, which netted Academy Awards for screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher and actress Mo'Nique.