David Oyelowo Was Desperate To See Selma Made

by Helen Earnshaw | 25 December 2014

David Oyelowo says he was 'desperate' to see Selma made and that was why that the actor stuck with the film during the struggles to get it to the big screen.

David Oyelowo

Selma will be released in February 2015, and will see Oyelowo take on the central role of Martin Luther King in a movie that chronicles the civil rights marches in Selma that changed American forever.

The movie had had a string of different directors on board before Ava DuVernay got involved, but Oyelowo stuck with the project because he wanted to see this story make it to the big screen.

Speaking to Flicks and Bits the actor said: "Well, first thing, it's kind of ridiculous isn't it, that a film centred around Dr. King would take this long to get made? He's arguably the most important figure of the 20th century; certainly the only one that has a holiday named after him, and this is the first film that actually captures the man on screen. Another reason being, I hugely admire the man.

Unfortunately, it's not everyday that black protagonists and black figures that were leaders are portrayed on screen, as opposed to those that were servants or the subjugated characters - not that they're any less important. We just need the full gamut and to contextualize the black experience in this country. That's why I was desperate to see this film made."

And Oyelowo's faith has paid off as Selma is being met well critically and Oyelowo himself has picked up a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination for his performance - the movie was also nominated for Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director and Best Original Song. Selma is just one of the biopics that will be released at the beginning of next year, and it could be a dark horse when it comes to Oscar nominations.

However, before we see Oyelowo in Selma, he will be back on the big screen alongside Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac in A Most Violent Year - another early 2015 film that is also winning over the critics. The British actor has also completed work on Captive, Nina, and Five Nights in Maine.

Nina is another biopic film for Oyelowo, as he stars in a film about musician Nina Simone. Zoe Saldana will take on the central role in the movie, while Oyelowo is on board as her manager Clifton Henderson. Cynthia Mort is in the director's chair for the movie.