By Movieguide® Staff
Yoruba Saxon Productions, a production company founded by Emmy-nominated actor David Oyelowo and his wife, actress, writer, and producer Jessica Oyelow, recently signed on to a deal with ViacomCBS and MTV Entertainment Studios for original scripted and unscripted series.
David will star in the first project under the new partnership, BASS REEVES, to kick things off. According to Deadline, the “limited series [is] about the legendary lawman of the wild West,” and the first African-American United States Deputy Marshal.
“David and Jessica are incredibly talented artists and we’re excited to develop our Bass Reeves project together with them and our phenomenal partner Taylor Sheridan,” Chris McCarthy, President, and CEO, MTV Entertainment Group, said. “As the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River, Reeves’ story is monumental, and this limited series will bring to light one of the greatest frontier heroes in our country’s history.”
Faith plays a significant role in David and Jessica’s personal lives, and they want to express that in unique ways through Yoruba Saxon.
“Yoruba Saxon, headed up by David and Jessica Oyelowo, is a talent-led production company, focused on values-based content, across all platforms and for all quadrants, with an aim to shift the culture and color outside the lines,” their website reads.
“The stories Jess and I want to tell are boundary-busting and full of folks the likes of whom we have seldom seen on screen. The extraordinary story of Bass Reeves exemplifies just that. To collaborate with world-class talent like Taylor Sheridan to tell those stories to the widest audience possible, is our dream, and we believe that can and will be realized through the shared ambitions we have with ViacomCBS and its signature branded platforms, alongside our seasoned and brilliant producing partners at 101 Studios,” Oyelowo told Deadline.
David previously told Movieguide®:
“In all of my work, I want to address the issue of faith without being prerogatory. You know, without sort of making it what the entire story is about. But it’s such a huge part of my own life that there is not a piece of work I do that doesn’t sort of touch on that in some way,” Oyelowo said, adding of THE WATER MAN: “When you have a kid who is basically decided to exhibit sacrificial love for his mom, who he’s on the precipice of losing, I mean, no one exhibited that better than Jesus Christ. And, you know, also the theme of what happens afterwards? And what can you control and not control, and how much just loving the moment you are in because you’re not promised tomorrow. These are all of course, you know, very pertinent biblical themes.”
Oyelowo said: “Very quickly, I was inspired to make this film because I know in my life, I have seen that God turned brokenness into beauty. That’s what we wanted to show with the film, and I just feel very blessed we got to do it. Thank you, and thank you, Lord.”
THE WATER MAN is the sixth movie produced by Oyelowo and his wife under their Yoruba Saxon production company.
Oyelowo is known for his roles in THE MIDNIGHT SKY, INTERSTELLAR, LINCOLN, RED TAILS, THE HELP, and more.
In 2015, Brian Bird’s CAPTIVE, starring Oyelowo, was honored at the Movieguide® Awards.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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