RLJE Films, a US production-distribution firm, and Netflix have acquired ‘The Water Man’, a movie directed by David Oyelowo, Nigerian-British actor, ahead of its rollout.

The latest acquisition comes after the family adventure movie, which is the actor’s feature directorial debut, premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival and was greeted with accolades.

RLJE will distribute the movie in North America and plans to release the project in US theaters and PVOD on May 7, while Netflix will be handling the rest of its worldwide rollout later this year.

‘The Water Man’ follows the story of Gunner (Lonnie Chavis), who sets out to save his ill mother (Rosario Dawson) by searching for a mythic figure who possesses the secret to immortality.

After accepting the help of a mysterious local girl, who identifies as Jo (Amiah Miller), they journey together into the remote Wild Horse forest. But the deeper they venture, the stranger and more dangerous the forest becomes.

Their only hope for rescue is Gunner’s father (Oyelowo), who goes to find them and discover who his son really is.

“To be able to share my directorial debut, ‘The Water Man,’ with the world through the hands of RLJE Films and Netflix is a dream come true for me,” Variety quoted Oyelowo as saying while speaking of the acquisition.

“While in some ways this film is a father and son story, at its core it’s also a love letter to mothers everywhere.”

The film is said to have been produced under Oyelowo’s Yoruba/Saxon Productions banner and Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and ShivHans Pictures, while executive producers are Winfrey, Darren M. Demetre, Connor Flanagan and Needell.