*Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo are set to collaborate once more on the feature film “Heist of Benin,” marking another chapter in their long-running creative partnership. According to Deadline, the project is described as a thriller that blends “art, love and restitution” against the setting of present-day London.
DuVernay will direct the film, with Oyelowo attached to star in the lead role. The story centers on a high-stakes narrative that weaves together personal relationships and broader questions tied to history and cultural legacy. Studiocanal is financing the film and will also handle global distribution and international sales.
The new project continues a professional relationship that has produced several notable works. DuVernay and Oyelowo previously collaborated on the Academy Award-winning film “Selma,” which chronicled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership during the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights marches, with Oyelowo portraying King. Oyelowo also appeared in DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle in Time” for Disney.
DuVernay spoke about the significance of working together again on this project. “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.”
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Oyelowo echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the careful search for a meaningful follow-up collaboration. “Ava and I have been looking for the right story to tell together again,” he said. “Heist is that story. It’s thrilling and high-powered with deeply resonant themes that matter to us both.”
“Heist of Benin” is produced by Steve Richards and Jake Katofsky of Endurance Media, along with Lisa Bruce and Oyelowo under the Yoruba Saxon banner. The film originates from an original idea and spec script written by Jesse Quiñones, who will also serve as executive producer.
At Studiocanal, Ron Halpern, Shana Eddy, and Sam Shipp are overseeing the project on behalf of the studio.
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