David Oyelowo and Ava DuVernay are joining forces again for a new feature film, Heist of Benin, more than a decade after their Academy Award-nominated collaboration on the 2014 film Selma.
The movie is set in contemporary London and described as a thriller that weaves together art, love, and restitution. DuVernay will direct, while Oyelowo will star and also produce under his company Yoruba Saxon. The screenplay is written by Jesse Quiñones, based on an original idea.
The project was officially announced during Studiocanal’s Paris showcase. DuVernay said, “Reuniting with David in this way feels full circle. This film speaks to history, identity and love, all through the lens of a high-stakes, modern adventure. I’m thrilled to bring it to life with him and Studiocanal.”
Oyelowo added, “Ava and I have been looking for the right story to tell together again. Heist of Benin is that story. It’s thrilling and high-powered with deeply resonant themes that matter to us both.”
Heist of Benin marks the first feature collaboration between DuVernay and Oyelowo since Selma, in which Oyelowo portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
