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This is shaping up to be a major year for Idris Elba. Fresh off his Golden Globe win for the sharp BBC sleuth series Luther, the devastatingly handsome British leading man dove into production on Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim. Though that sci-fi adventure won't hit theaters until 2013, Elba will soon be seen in Ridley Scott's Alien-inspired horror-thriller Prometheus, which opens June 8th. However, it was during the press tour for his latest effort, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, that Idris teased an altogether different feature, which he called his "big project this year".

What could possibly be bigger than working with two of contemporary cinema's most exciting sci-fi crafters on two hotly anticipated big-budget adventures? Why, playing renowned anti-apartheid activist turned South African president Nelson Mandela in a soon-to-shoot biopic.

Elba gave Hip Hollywood the details:

"I'm gonna' go play Nelson Mandela in Long Walk To Freedom, an autobiographical work written by Nelson Mandela himself, which highlights his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison…That's where my head is geared to this summer."

This will put Elba on a distinguished list of actors who have portrayed the heralded humanitarian that includes Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert, Sidney Poitier, and Morgan Freeman.

It's a role that is inherently intimidating with shoes that are frightfully hard to fill.

Still, CinemaBlend.com says Elba seems completely fit for the part.

He has proven time and time again to be an incredibly powerful performer and talented actor, so tackling the tale of Mandela should be well within his abilities.

But Elba also has this incorrigible spirit that radiates through every effort be it comedy (The Office) or drama (The Wire).

He, like Mandela, is intensely affable, and this mixed with his remarkable dramatic chops should lend to one of the best Mandela portrayals yet, if not the best.

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Tue May 21 15:29:37 SAST 2013 ::

Feb 27, 2012

CheeseBoy

I got no beef with Idris Elba, I think he is a good actor

I have an issue with americans playing the role of African roles in general.

Gill Scot in that Lady detective series baaad 1/10
Morgan Freeman in Invictus, terrible 1/10

just to name a couple examples. I would never spend my money or waste my time watching any movies of this nature, just my choice.


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On a side note Sowetan , although it is honorable to block off comments for certain articles. That would not stop TROLLS from starting their nonsense on a different article.

Why not find a better way to block off trolls like beefing up requirements to register. blocking usernames in stead of punishing everyone. its very easy.

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Feb 27, 2012

somaartakeit

Morgan Fre.eman is to me the best Madiba portrayal ever even the features and gestures are so Madiba like,
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Feb 27, 2012

WebTeam

@CheeseBoy
Yes, we would like to identify only the people abusing this forum
It is important that the rude, crude and obscene language comes to a stop
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Feb 27, 2012

RobinH

Cheeseboy: Just for the sake of accuracy, Elba is not American. He is British. I tend to agree with somaartakeit.
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Feb 27, 2012

pik_it_up

oh and the pictures of khanyi were classy???

its double standards, people will express themselves hoe ever they feel...you wanna stop freedom of speech???
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Feb 27, 2012

queenzo

arnt there any south african guys that can please the role and even speak the language?
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Feb 27, 2012

WebTeam

@pik_it_up
The law of this country states that people may not incite violence - and that applies to everyone



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Feb 27, 2012

RobinH

Web_Team> I lament the fact that you have never acted on cases reported in the past. It makes one wonder what the point of reporting such things is.
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Feb 27, 2012

WordofGod

at first it was jennifer hudson for winnie and now this guy for mandela.i have nothing against the guy. don't we have people in mzansi who can be uplifted to play this parts in these movies? what about the accent, the xho.sa language. the parts where mandela speaking his african language? aaiii!! americans think that they rule the world...
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Feb 27, 2012

Raven

.... who in Mzansi can play Mandela? pls name 3...
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