Golden Globe nominated British Nigerian actor David Oyelowo and ‘Selma’ director Ava DuVernay are in negotiations to team up with Participant Media to develop a feature film chronicling a love story and murder mystery during the time of Hurricane Katrina. DuVernay will write, produce, and direct. A start date has not been set for the as yet untitled project.
It will mark the third collaboration between DuVernay and Oyelowo after ‘Selma’ and Participant’s ‘Middle of Nowhere’, which won DuVernay the 2012 Sundance Film Festival best director award. Participant Media’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King will serve as executive producers.
“Hurricane Katrina is one of the most important social and environmental stories of our time,” said King. “Ava DuVernay has shown herself to be highly skilled at bringing intimacy and contemporary urgency to epic events. We have been looking for the right way to get back in business with Ava, and with David Oyelowo, and are proud to reteam with them on her original idea, which we believe will be a powerful film.”
According to DuVernay, “The story we’re interested in will explore the complexities of intimate relationships within times of chaos, while also examining the chaos itself. I’m looking forward to the journey.”
