Subscribe

* indicates required
Okayplayer News

To continue reading

Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy

Pass The Popcorn: 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom' [Official Trailer]

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Yesterday, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela turned 95 and--among many other events and editorials created to mark the occasion--the trailer for his biopic was released. Hollywood star (and sometimes rapper--whaddap 9th?) Idris Elba will have the honor and great responsibility of portraying the iconic political leader in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, which is set to release next fall. Given Mr. Mandela's ongoing health battles, it seems particularly timely that this visual review of his life's accomplishments will be available in wide release in the next year.

Although some have complained about the casting because Elba doesn't look enough like the man himself, the trailer suggests that the filmmakers made a pretty solid choice. The handsome Londoner appears to bring the right combination of gravity and spirit to humanize the story behind the living legend, but let's wait to see how it sits after the release. In the vein of celebrating Mandela's nine and a half decades, our partners at Okayafrica put together a list of the Top 10 Mandela Music Moments, including jams from Stevie Wonder and Gil Scott-Heron (among others) so check that out and peep the trailer for Mandela below.

>>>Top 10 Mandela Music Moments (via Okayafrica)