First 'Selma' Images Reveal David Oyelowo As Martin Luther King Jr.

The summer movie season is just about wrapped up now, which means it's time to look ahead to the prestige dramas of fall and winter. One of the most intriguing titles coming our way in the next few months is Selma, about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

David Oyelowo plays the civil rights icon, with a huge supporting cast that includes Carmen Ejogo (as Coretta Scott King), Tom Wilkinson (as President Lyndon B. Johnson), Tim Roth, Giovanni Ribisi, Cuba Gooding Jr., Common, Wendell Pierce, Lorraine Toussaint, and many more. Hit the jump to see the first Selma movie images.

The first image shows Oyelowo and Ejogo as Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King. The second features several supporting stars including... well actually, I'll just let Paramount tell you.

Tessa Thompson plays Diane Nash, Omar Dorsey plays James Orange, Colman Domingo plays Ralph Abernathy, David Oyelowo plays Martin Luther King, Jr., André Holland plays Andrew Young, Corey Reynolds plays Rev. C.T. Vivian, and Lorraine Toussaint plays Amelia Boynton in SELMA, from Paramount Pictures and Pathé.

Selma has been brewing for several years already. Originally Lee Daniels was set to direct, and he got as far as casting a few years ago before the whole thing fell apart. He eventually moved on to The Butler, a similarly star-studded, Civil Rights-themed affair.Then, last year, Ava DuVernay took over the reins. While she's not exactly a household name, Selma could change that if it does well during awards season. Prior to getting the gig, she'd earned some big buzz for taking home the Best Director statue at Sundance 2012 for her indie drama Middle of Nowhere.Selma has an Oscar-friendly release date of December 25.

"SELMA" is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people – a dangerous and terrifying campaign that culminated with the epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and led to President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.