Terrence Howard As Nelson Mandela In WINNIE Starring Jennifer Hudson

Playing Nelson Mandela gave Morgan Freeman an Oscar nomination, will playing the same role give Terrence Howard his second nod as well? According to Hollywood Reporter, Terrence is set to play Mandela in WINNIE, starring Jennifer Hudson, which will focus more on Winnie Mandela, Nelson’s wife.
To be directed by Darrell Roodt, the budget budget is only about $15 Million. Production starts in on May 31st
in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Robben Island, where Mandela was held prisoner for 18 years. I doubt Terrence’s performance would stand out, we’re still fresh from being impressed by what Morgan did in Invictus. Terrence just happens to find himself in a similar situation that Toby Jones experienced in Infamous as Capote, he couldn’t outplay Philip Seymour Hoffman‘s masterful performance the year before. Previous info about WINNIE after this jump…

Mandela’s wife, Winnie Mandela, fought against civil rights with her activist husband, she even went to jail for that same reason. But she is more of a complex character whose reputation got tarnished association with a bodyguard who murdered a 14-year old alleged informer, and Winnie was later convicted of fraud.
The film is based on the biography WINNIE MANDELA: A LIFE by author Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob.

Here’s the official synopsis of the book WINNIE MANDELA: A LIFE..
“Everyone has an opinion about Winnie Mandela, and usually a strong one. She has been adored, feared and hated more than any other woman in South African history. But few people know much about the life behind the headlines, myths and sound-bites. This biography is an in-depth and intimate look at Winnie Mandela’s personal and political life, and takes the reader on a remarkable journey of understanding. The book traces her development from talented and privileged child to dedicated social worker, caring wife and mother, and fiery political activist. It examines her vigorous campaign to keep the name of her jailed husband alive, and explores her own harassment, imprisonment and isolation at the hands of the security police. Finally, the book investigates the events that have made Winnie Mandela such a controversial figure: the allegations of kidnapping and murder, her divorce from Mandela, and the current fraud charges. Winnie Mandela’s journey to this point is traced with understanding and honesty, in this fascinating and balanced biography of a most enigmatic woman.”