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SCREEN IDOL: Idris Elba will play Madiba in the movie of Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.

WORLD ICON: Former president Nelson Mandela. Photo: ELMOND JIYANE

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THE lack of global attraction, and not height, stands in the way of local actors being cast to play fellow countryman - and former president Nelson Mandela in the film of his book, Long Walk to Freedom.

This is the view of South African producer Anant Singh who, along with British producer David Thompson, will be at the helm of the latest in a mile-long series of productions about the elderly statesman's life.

But the news was met with a lot of controversy from South Africans after British actor Idris Elba was revealed as the man to portray the 93-year-old because no local actor could match his height (1.9metres).

The criteria was mentioned by Moonyeenn Lee, who was tasked with casting the next man - in an already bulging list of international actors - to play Madiba.

Lee was quoted as saying: "The main problem is the height. Mandela is a particularly tall man. On average, South African actors are not 1.9metres."

Elba, who stars in the detective crime series The Wire, is 1.88metres tall.

There has always been discontent whenever an international actor is picked to play Mandela or even former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

A local producer who has worked on several international projects, and did not want to be named, said yesterday: "When you put a star in a movie, there is value already associated with their name in various territories globally. The sad part is there are very few black actors the international marketplace will back."

He said many films that unexpectedly rose to global prominence, like Oscar-winning Tsotsi with an unknown cast, did so because of success on the festival circuits first.

"It's really about the business side of it which many people will not understand. We would all love a South African in the lead, but you have to look at who is doing the investment and whether they want a guarantee of their money back," he added.

Clint Eastwood's Invictus, a film about the role rugby played in unifying post-apartheid South Africa during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, grossed over $122-million (R932-million) - starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon - while it had a budget of only $50-million (R382-million).

International company Pathe secured the distribution rights in the UK and France and will handle global sales.

Stage and TV veteran Sello Maake Ka-Ncube said it was up to local businesses to throw money behind productions for stories of local heroes to be told by local actors and producers - the way South Africans want them told.

"I've been a strong proponent against having foreigners play [our local heroes]. But our country is also not taking initiatives and now we find people from outside putting money to make these films, and it's like the dollar rules," he said.

"Money speaks and everybody wants a return on investment and the time has come to stop whingeing.

"We have millionaires and billionaires in this country, but people from outside are owning our stories."

The film will be directed by Englishman Justin Chadwick and shooting is expected to begin in May.

Naomie Harris is reportedly earmarked to play Madikizela-Mandela.

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 06:50:26 SAST 2013 ::

Mar 22, 2012

Pointman

As long as he does justice to the role, who cares where he is from. Wonder what they are going to do about the accent since Madiba did have a distinct voice.
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Mar 22, 2012

reokedit

And its high time we come up with our own stories, instead of complaining when some American Director was creative enough to c that there is an African story that needs to be told and he comes up with his own cast then we cry foul...Lets rite our own documentaries and cast our own ppl and stop being such cry babies when sum1 was more creative than us..Nx!!
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Mar 22, 2012

reokedit

Can sum1 please document the events that led to the Sharpeville massacre, the dompas march by our mothers to the Union Buildings, How Mandela got released,How Bophuthatswana and them Gzankulus were toppled, there's alot to write about. But our producers are too lazy, n when Steven Spielberg produces this and brings Denzel to play Sobukwe, we will complain, for what??SA's must get up from their lazy bums and use their imaginations. *no pun intended*
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Mar 22, 2012

ApelMankotsana

@ Well said...My biggest concern is the voice. One of the trademarks of Mandela is the voice and his jive..Hope the casting agent will teach the Brit to mould his voice and do the Madiba Jive.
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Mar 22, 2012

RobinH

I think he will do a great job.
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Mar 22, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Its all about the money I agree with Sello people pumping money into the production will have the final say!!
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Mar 22, 2012

McLoving

@reokedit

Welcome to SA.You are 100% correct.We have lazy buggers waiting to hijack other people's ideas.Another e.g is when you bring a business plan,instead of getting assistance to start your business expect someone to steal your idea and you ending up with nothing.
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Mar 22, 2012

WEREWOLF

i really like this man, but we have so many talented south african or african in africa who can do the role of Mandela, why taking from oversea? we know those are good actors but need to express our own and make them popular.

i really don't know what is wrong with africa - i think it is jealousness.
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Mar 22, 2012

sakhomba

Idris is a good actor. he did a good job on both The Wire and Takers. I am sure he will do justice in the Madiba movie.
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Mar 22, 2012

McLoving

@Sowetan

Can we please have stories..what is going on.Bring those articles.
#you waiting for your name to be called# *singing Tshepo Tshola's*
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