Well, we first broke the news way back in December and now Idris Elba (The Wire, Thor, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance) has finally confirmed that he’s set to play former South African leader Nelson Mandela in a biopic based upon Mandela’s 1995 autobiographical book Long Walk to Freedom, with cameras set to roll on the film this summer.
Elba, who recently won a Golden Globe for his work in the BBC series Luther, told HipHollywood: “My big project this year, 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.”
Before we get to Long Walk to Freedom, Elba will also be seen this June alongside Michael Fassbender (Shame), Charlize Theron (Snow White and the Huntsman) and Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, while he’s also busy filming the giant monster movie Pacific Rim with director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth).
Originally published February 23, 2012. Updated April 10, 2018.
