Ava DuVernay and her Selma star David Oyelowo have teamed up with Participant Media to develop a romantic mystery set against the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina.

DuVernay will write, produce, and direct while Oyelowo is in talks to produce and star. The project will mark their third collaboration after Selma and Participant’s Middle Of Nowhere, which earned DuVernay the directing award at Sundance 2012.

Participant Media’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King will serve as executive producers. 

“Hurricane Katrina is one of the most important social and environmental stories of our time,” said King, Participant’s evp of narrative film, who will oversee production for Participant.

“Ava DuVernay has shown herself to be highly skilled at bringing intimacy and contemporary urgency to epic events. We have been looking for the right way to get back in business with Ava, and with David Oyelowo, and are proud to re-team with them on her original idea, which we believe will be a powerful film.”   

“I’m thrilled to reunite with my Participant family on this project and fortunate to work again with the always exquisite David Oyelowo,” said DuVernay.

“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.”