Precious director Lee Daniels has been looking for an man to play civil rights leader Martin Luther King in Selma, the tale of historic marches organised by Dr King in 1965. And now he’s found him in British actor David Oyelowo.
Oyelowo, who’ll next be seen in George Lucas’ Red Tails, is best known over here as Danny in Spooks and for his turn in** **The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and has signed on to play MLK opposite Hugh Jackman, who will co-star as a racist sheriff who tries to stop the marches happening.
The movie itself, however, is under some threat, though this time for financial issues, not racial ones. Pathe International had offered to stump up a big chunk of the cash to make it, but has now scaled back its involvement. The producers are sending the script to other companies to drum up some more interest. What, having the director who made Precious isn't enough for them?