Nobody doubts Idris Elba's acting ability, with many predicting he'll be a Best Actor winner some day. But Harvey Weinstein is betting on that time being now, and he's gearing up a major campaign for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, in which Elba plays South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. The first trailer only gives a feel for the flavor of the harrowing biopic, but this latest one really emphasizes the transformation Elba undergoes.
Directed by Justin Chadwick and co-starring Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela, the film chronicles the path Mandela took to become the champion for equality and freedom he would ultimately become. While Elba is not the most obvious choice to play Mandela, he seems to have the voice and charismatic presence down pat. There's little here that suggests anything more than a standard, by-the-numbers biopic, and that's been some of the early buzz about it coming from the film's TIFF debut.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom opens on November 29th, but if you're in the DC/VA area it will play the Middleburg Film Festival on October 26th. Get your tickets now.
