A new documentary in development is turning its focus to Coretta Scott King—not just as the widow of Martin Luther King Jr., but as a determined figure who spent decades questioning the official story behind his 1968 assassination.
Titled King vs. The United States of America, the project is being developed by Byron Allen and filmmaker Ava DuVernay, according to Deadline.
The feature-length documentary will explore Coretta Scott King’s long-running efforts to uncover what she believed were unanswered questions surrounding her husband’s killing at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, with responsibility officially placed on James Earl Ray, who initially confessed before later recanting.
Coretta Scott King never fully accepted the conclusion that Ray acted alone. Over the years, she pressed for further investigation, pointing to evidence that suggested broader involvement.
That skepticism gained renewed attention in the 1970s, when a U.S. Senate committee revealed that the FBI—under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover—had conducted illegal surveillance and harassment campaigns against King.
The documentary also revisits a pivotal moment in 1999, when a Memphis jury concluded that King was the victim of a wider conspiracy involving “government agencies” and other actors. While the verdict did not result in criminal charges, it reinforced long-standing concerns held by King’s family and supporters.
Allen described the project as deeply personal, saying, “My passion and dedication to exposing the historic secret trial regarding Dr. King’s assassination is unshakable.”
DuVernay echoed that commitment, noting her long-standing interest in the King family’s legacy and her desire to examine this chapter with care and depth. The filmmaker previously explored Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and leadership in Selma, released in 2014.
Beyond the investigation itself, King vs. The United States of America will also contextualize Coretta Scott King’s role as a leader in her own right. Following her husband’s death, she emerged as a global advocate for racial justice, women’s rights, LGBTQ equality, and the fight against apartheid, while also founding the King Center in Atlanta.
The documentary is set to be produced by Allen alongside Carolyn Folks, Jennifer Lucas, Chris Charalambous, and Matthew Signer.