Acclaimed director of Belle, Amma Asante, has boarded A United Kingdom, a feature from screenwriter Guy Hibbert (Eye in the Sky; One Child).

The story, which is based on real events, centres on Seretse Khama, a member of the royal family of Bechuanaland, a country and former English colony that in later years would become Botswana with Khama as President.

Khama had created controversy prior to his political tenure by marrying a white woman in 1948 – a time when such an interracial marriage caused outcry.

David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike are reported to be attached to the project, which also counts Oyelowo among its producers.

Other producers on the feature, which comes from Pathé International, include Cameron McCracken, Brunson Green, Justin Moore-Levy, Charlie Mason and Czech Republic-based super producer Rick McCallum.

We have been hearing about this project for around eighteen months now, so it is very exciting to see it up and running with a raft of pedigree talent on board. Filming will be split between the UK and Africa, with more specific locations yet to be confirmed, although Botswana and South Africa are in the frame. The project is currently eyeing an autumn start.  

We look forward to updating this one on Production Intelligence over the summer.