Actor Morgan Freeman is to play former South African president Nelson Mandela in forthcoming film The Human Factor.
The 70-year-old actor will co-produce the film, which is based on John Carlin's book of the same name.
It is set during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, when Mr Mandela used the country's hosting of the tournament to help heal divisions between blacks and whites.
Oscar-winner Freeman said it would be a "great honour" to play Mr Mandela, 88, who left office in 1999.
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk 