Paramount+ revealed the official trailer for Becoming King, a documentary feature giving a behind-the-scenes look at actor David Oyelowo’s transformation in the Oscar-winning film ‘Selma’

Release Date

Directed by Jessica Oyelowo (David Oyelowo’s wife), Becoming King premieres exclusively on Paramount+ streaming service beginning Monday, February 19.

Synopsis

The documentary feature, directed by Jessica Oyelowo, is an emotional portrait of David Oyelowo’s seven-year journey portraying the legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 film Selma. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage, intimate home videos and interviews with friends and mentors like Ava DuVernay, Lee Daniels, George Lucas and Oprah Winfrey, Becoming King follows the NAACP Image Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards winner and Emmy, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG nominee from his humble beginnings in Nigeria to the long, grueling road toward the role of a lifetime and a destiny fulfilled.

“I felt a deep need to document David’s intense preparation for his career-defining role even before Selma was greenlit,” says Jessica Oyelowo. “Although Becoming King would mark my foray into documentary filmmaking, I knew I was the only person my husband could trust with such an intimate story. I was ready to embrace the challenge and am so happy to play a pivotal role in bringing David’s incredible journey to the screen.”

Commemorating Black History Month, Becoming King is the marquee title in the Black Voices Collection on Paramount+, which features a broad array of films, TV series, documentaries, comedy specials and more. The collection highlights the stories and boundless contributions of Black trailblazers in the arts, culture, and history, including the David Oyelowo-starring films Selma and The Butler, and the series Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

Official Trailer

Watch the official trailer for Becoming King

Watch the official trailer for Selma