Morgan Freeman to play Nelson Mandela

[eXcentris]

Morgan Freeman will play Nelson Mandela in a film based on the former South African leader's autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom."

Director Shekhar Kapur ("The Four Feathers", "Elizabeth") made the announcement at the Capri-Hollywood film festival, the BBC reports.

Mandela was president of South Africa from 1994-1999, after spending 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid activities.

To prepare for the role, Freeman says he and Mandela plan to meet whenever they are within 1000 miles of each other.

A release date for the film, being written by William Nicholson ("Gladiator"), has yet to be announced.


Freeman is a great choice. Bandit Queen and Elizabeth were great but The Four feathers was mediocre. Let's hope that Kapur forgot that he made the later. :)

[joeydaninja]

asteeg!

that should be a good movie.

[The Bus]

They look enough alike:

http://i.timeinc.net/ew/features/980807/actors/img/freeman.jpg
Morgan Freeman
http://www.e-zone.pl/gw/src/freeman/id_freeman.jpg
Nelson Mandela

[raKim]

Originally posted by The Bus
They look enough alike:

http://i.timeinc.net/ew/features/980807/actors/img/freeman.jpg
Morgan Freeman
http://www.e-zone.pl/gw/src/freeman/id_freeman.jpg
Nelson Mandela

you have those reversed actually...

[Jaymole]

you have those reversed actually...

Actually, he's either making a joke or he accidently posted 2 pictures of Freeman.

[Amadeus]

Yeah those 2 pics are of Morgan Freeman.But they really do look alot alike.I'm sure Freeman will do a great job in this one.

[Groucho]

I like Freeman, but I've never heard him do an accent. Can he do one?

I saw a TV movie made while Mandela was still in prison with Danny Glover. I thought did a really job in the role.

[Scot1458]

so are they going to show Mandella as the communist that he is, or the "peace loving" African leader?

[eXcentris]

Originally posted by Groucho
I like Freeman, but I've never heard him do an accent. Can he do one?



Here's your homework for this week. Watch John G. Avildsen's underrated The Power of One (1992), the coming of age story of a South African boy named PK, where Morgan Freeman plays "Geel Piet" a South African inmate who teaches PK to box. [:)]

[eXcentris]

Originally posted by Scot1458
so are they going to show Mandella as the communist that he is, or the "peace loving" African leader?

I don't know, but I assume you'd rate his achievements higher if he were a capitalist huh. :rolleyes:

[Groucho]

Originally posted by eXcentris
Here's your homework for this week. Watch John G. Avildsen's underrated The Power of One (1992), the coming of age story of a South African boy named PK, where Morgan Freeman plays "Geel Piet" a South African inmate who teaches PK to box. [:)] Thanks for the recommend. I've not seen this film and I'll add it to my Netflix queue toot sweet (assuming it's on DVD).

[Pants]

Originally posted by eXcentris
I don't know, but I assume you'd rate his achievements higher if he were a capitalist huh. :rolleyes: I hope they celebrate his achievement of plumeting a once prosperous first world country's economy solidly back into stone-age third world status where crime runs rapent and there is no industry. He was a great leader in revolution and he suffered admirably against an intollerable system, but he was a crappy president and he ran the country into the ground.

[Matt925]

After seeing The Four Feathers any potential interest I would have in this has evaporated. I was just stunned by how bad that movie was. I want my $5.75 back.

[eXcentris]

Originally posted by Pants
I hope they celebrate his achievement of plumeting a once prosperous first world country's economy solidly back into stone-age third world status where crime runs rapent and there is no industry. He was a great leader in revolution and he suffered admirably against an intollerable system, but he was a crappy president and he ran the country into the ground.

A strong South Africa under apartheid, or an apartheid free South Africa with economic woes. Ask South Africans what they prefer. His "journey" began in 1950. He was only president from 1994 to 1999, and under very difficult conditions. Would anyone else have done better? That can be argued but regardless, his achievements dwarf the problems he had while president. "He ran the country into the ground" is a disingeneous over-simplification. He gave south Africans something that can't be bought, hope.

[grunter]

Gee - that's a stretch.

;)