Fishburne set to play Mandela in BET’s series ‘Madiba’
THE ROLE of Nelson Mandela in the BET Networks’ mini-series, Madiba, has gone to Hollywood actor, Laurence Fishburne.
To date, we have seen many Hollywood actors play Mandela in a plethora of movies and mini-series. And it remains a serious bone of contention for South Africans.
Looking back, we have had Idris Elba ( Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, 2013), Terrence Howard ( Winnie Mandela, 2011), David Harewood ( Mrs Mandela, 2010), Clark Peters ( Endgame, 2009), Morgan Freeman ( Invictus, 2009), Dennis Haysbert ( Goodbye Bafana, 2007), Sidney Poitier ( Mandela & De Klerk, 1997) and Danny Glover ( Mandela, 1987) play the father of our rainbow nation.
Lindane Nkosi is the only South African to have played him, in Drumin 2004.
However, this news comes after an intensive hunt for a potential South African for the part, as was confirmed by Lance Samuels ( The Book of Negroes), the executive producer and president of Blue Ice Pictures.
The six-part mini-series is based on Conversations with Myself and Nelson Mandela by Himself. Kweku Mandela, Madiba’s grandson, will co-executive produce under the Out of Africa banner.
Samuels said: “We are extremely excited and honoured to be working with Laurence Fishburne on this important project. I cannot imagine anyone better portraying such an iconic figure as Nelson Mandela. An actor of his stature and talent will help us bring this remarkable story to a wider audience.”
And the mini-series will be under the adroit direction of Kevin Hooks – the man behind Prison Break and Passenger 57 – and a string of well-known TV series.
Stephen Hill, President of Programming for BET Networks, added: “Nelson Mandela’s journey of political activism and leadership is deeply inspirational and we are proud to have the talented and award-winning actor Laurence Fishburne join Madiba to tell his triumphant story. BET continue to break new ground in long-form programming.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Blue Ice Pictures and tell a story that will inspire audiences of all ages.”
Filming is expected to get under way in the next three to four months.