Selma cast to march in Alabama to mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Selma stars David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey and Common are set to retrace Martin Luther King, Jr.'s steps on Sunday (18Jan15) by marching in Alabama to mark the civil rights icon's birthday.

The revered activist led the voting rights protest from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965 and the historic event has been documented in new biopic Selma, with British actor Oyelowo portraying King.

The movie earned two Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Song on what would have been King's 86th birthday on Thursday (15Jan15), and to highlight the occasion, the stars of the film are preparing to join forces with director Ava DuVernay and march this weekend.

The commemorative event will take place on the eve of the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday (19Jan15).

The day-long march will begin with a question and answer session with the cast and filmmakers for students and teachers of Selma High School. The talk will be moderated by Congresswoman Terri Sewell.

Mayor George Evans will then deliver a community address at Selma City Hall, followed by prayers at local churches, before the Selma stars march to Edmund Pettus Bridge.

The festivities will wrap up with a screening of the Oscar-nominated movie at the Selma Walton Theater, two days after President Barack Obama hosts the film's stars at the White House for a similar screening on Friday (16Jan15).