Sola picks up Sycholt's Themba

Sola Media has taken international rights to Stefanie Sycholt’s South Africa-set Themba, featuring former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann in his first acting role.

Based on the novel of the same name by German-Dutch writer Lutz van Dijk, the German-South African co-production between Zeitsprung Entertainment and Rheingold Films with DO Productions follows eleven year-old boy Themba (whose name means hope) as he makes the journey  from the poorest of backgrounds to realising his dream of playing for Bafana Bafana, the South African national football team.

The cast is made up of a mix of non-professionals, newcomers and well-known South African actors such as Patrick Mofokeng (Invictus) and rising singer Simphiwe Dana, with Junior Singo in the lead role as Themba.