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a talent-led production company creating values-based content.
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. As artists and filmmakers, we are committed to expressing our love of storytelling and passion for people through entertainment for a global audience. Yoruba Saxon’s films include The Water Man (RLJE), Nightingale (HBO), Captive (Paramount), A United Kingdom (Fox Searchlight), Come Away (Relativity Media), Five Nights in Maine (FilmRise) and the upcoming film Solitary (BRON Studios).
recent productions
the founders
David Oyelowo
David Oyelowo, a multiple Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy-nominated actor and producer, is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents.
Oyelowo recently made his directorial debut with The Water Man which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was released worldwide in 2021 to critical acclaim.
David enjoys being married to Jessica, spending time with his children and four dogs and is obsessed with all things combat sports.
Additional acting film credits include: Queen of Katwe, Selma, Interstellar, Midnight Sky, A Most Violent Year, The Butler, Lincoln, Don’t Let Go, Jack Reacher, Red Tails, The Help, The Last King of Scotland.
Jessica Oyelowo
Jessica Oyelowo is a multi-faceted talent whose projects often highlight her singing, writing, acting, or producing.
Jessica started her acting career on stage with starring roles in The Threepenny Opera, Cyrano De Bergerac, Up on The Roof, Ana in Love, Shakespeare’s As You Like It and appearing in Wilson Milan’s West End production of Hurly Burly. She soon added film and television to her resume with The Water Man, Sleepy Hollow, Alice in Wonderland, A United Kingdom, Captive, Mayo, and Murphy’s Law.
Oyelowo premiered her song, What Love Does, alongside the release of The Water Man as well as wrote three additional tracks for the film’s original soundtrack.
Jessica has been building Yoruba Saxon with David, while raising their four children and enjoys playing the piano while singing as well as practicing ballet and pilates.
in partnership with
film
television
recent press
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Apple Nears Series Order for David Oyelowo-Led Dramedy ‘Government Cheese’ (EXCLUSIVE)
David Oyelowo is set to star in a dramedy series that is nearing a pickup order at Apple, Variety has learned exclusively.
The show is titled “Government Cheese” and is based on the short film of the same name made by Paul Hunter. Hunter serves as co-creator on the series version with Aeysha Carr (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “The Carmichael Show”).
“Government Cheese” follows Hampton Chambers (Oyelowo), a man recently released from prison who struggles to keep his criminal past at bay and win back his family, all while processing moments of divine intervention that seem to happen with increasing frequency.
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Will Smith and David Oyelowo Team to Adapt ‘Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun’ for Netflix (EXCLUSIVE)
Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and David Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon have partnered with Netflix to produce the film adaptation of “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun.”
Based on the upcoming book by British-Nigerian author, journalist and hair care educator Tọlá Okogwu, “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun” tells the tale of a teenager who learns she has powers and travels to Nigeria to learn more about her origins, where she discovers a threat to her newfound magical community.
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‘The Rocketeer’ Making A Comeback On Disney+ With David Oyelowo Producing & Circling To Star; Ed Ricourt Penning
EXCLUSIVE: Disney is reviving a cult classic favorite, The Rocketeer, with a new Disney+ movie titled The Return of the Rocketeer. David and Jessica Oyelowo are producing under their Yoruba Saxon banner. The project, written by Ed Ricourt, will also be a possible starring project for the Selma actor.
The original movie, released in 1991, was directed by Joe Johnston and adapted from Dave Stevens’ graphic novel. In that film, which made close to $47 million at the domestic box office and became a fan fave for the studio, a young pilot stumbles onto a prototype jetpack that allows him to become a high-flying masked hero.
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‘Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan To Direct Pilot Of ‘Bass Reeves’; David Oyelowo Discusses Playing The Enslaved Man-Turned Legendary Lawman
EXCLUSIVE: Yellowstone co-creator and showrunner Taylor Sheridan will direct the pilot of 1883: Bass Reeves, the six-part limited series starring David Oyelowo as the legendary Wild West lawman.
Sheridan cleared room in his busy schedule after the pilot script came in and Sheridan was so impressed that he called Oyelowo, who sparked to having him get behind the camera. “The reality is that [Taylor] is one of the best directors on the planet,” Oyelowo told Deadline.