Ava DuVernay is set to direct a big screen mystery set against the backdrop of the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This may mean that DuVernay will team up again with David Oyelowo, who portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in DuVernay’s Oscar-nominated drama Selma. The actor is currently in negotiations to star in and produce this upcoming film from Participant Media.

In addition to directing, DuVernay is writing and producing the movie. The filmmaker has spoken enthusiastically about the project, saying, “I’m thrilled to reunite with my Participant family on this project, and I’m fortunate to work again with the always exquisite David Oyelowo. The story we’re interested in will explore the complexities of intimate relationships within times of chaos, while also examining the chaos itself. I’m looking forward to the journey.”

The yet-untitled film will feature both a complex murder mystery and a sweeping love story.

Best picture nominee Selma, which was shot on a comparatively small budget of $20 million, has become a critical and financial success.

Overseeing production of the new movie is Jonathan King (Lincoln), who believes it will be a “powerful film” and who said of the subject matter: “Hurricane Katrina is one of the most important social and environmental stories of our time.”