Morgan Freeman is to play Nelson Mandela in a film version of his autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom, according to the film's director Shekhar Kapur.
Kapur, a British-Pakistani director who made the transition from "Bollywood" to Hollywood with films such as The Four Feathers and Elizabeth, made the announcement at the Capri-Hollywood film festival.
"He is a spiritual hero like Gandhi," Kapur said of Mandela, comparing him to the legendary Indian leader who led opposition to British colonialism. "He does not need to fight a bloody battle in order to win."
Mandela spent 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid activities within the African National Congress (ANC), before being released in 1990 as white minority rule crumbled. He served as president from 1994-99.
Freeman said recently he and Mandela had made a pact to meet up whenever they are within 1,000 miles of each other, to help him prepare for playing the role.
"I'm honoured and terrified that I won't live up to the job of really presenting this man," Freeman said.
The film which has been in development since the launch of the autobiography by South Africa's most prolific producer, Durban-based Anant Singh, is being written by William Nicholson.
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