We’ve known for a while now that one of our favorite — and certainly one of the finest — actors, Idris Elba, was slated to play Nelson Mandela in an upcoming biopic, and now we’re getting our first look at him in the role.

The Hollywood Reporter just released this image of Idris for the biopic, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which will follow the anti-apartheid leader’s journey from childhood to his election as president of South Africa. What remains to be seen is will people buy it.

Viewers have grown increasingly vocal about the importance of maintaining one’s image when it comes to films such as this. Zoe Saldana may never live down the criticisms of taking on the role of Nina Simone, while, thus far, people are pleasantly surprised with Jessie L. Martin’s resemblance to Marvin Gaye. On which side of the fence will British-born Idris, who is of  Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian decent fall?  Check out more posters from Long Walk to Freedom below and tell us what you think. Are you convinced?

Nelson Mandela in July 2012. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File)

After Nelson Mandela’s ninth day in the hospital, many held their breath in realization that he may not reach his 95^th birthday next month. Fortunately, the former South African president has been improving from a lung infection, Politico reports. But while his health problems subside, Mandela’s business and brand issues remain.

As MN has reported in April, Mandela’s granddaughter Tukwini Mandela has been eyeing the family business — which manages sales of Mandela’s artwork — that is co-owned with Mandela’s associate, George Bizos.

In a nutshell, there has been a wrangle between Tukwini—along with her mother, Makaziwe–and Bizos. The Mandelas launched a case against the directors of the business who aren’t family (in the blood-related sense of the word); they claimed that they were not appropriately elected for their position. Bizos retaliated by accusing Makaziwe of wanting to take $1.3 million without disclosing the reasons behind it.

The latest reports say that Mandela’s children plan to sue him for a share of his companies — Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique Investment holdings — while Mandela battles illness. They intend to reverse a court order that Mandela won in 2004. The order had banned Mandela’s former lawyer, Ismail Ayob, from making future sales in the company; he was accused of selling Mandela’s art without permission, reports The Independent.

This is only a small factor that contributes to the gradually diminishing Mandela brand. A new reality show in South Africa titled Being Mandela documents the apartheid fighter’s granddaughters, Zaziwe and Swati. “Mandela went to jail for 27 years so that we can have reality shows,” a disapproving Mail and Guardian columnist laments on Twitter.

Mandela’s second wife* is also tarnishing the now-questionable reputation of the respected Mandela name. Lawyers are accusing Madikizela Mandela for owing nearly $5,000 in tuition for her grand-niece’s private school. In attempt to free Madikizela of her debt, the police tried to enter her property to sell off her art pieces from her auction. She refused to allow the officers inside.

While the Mandela brand is becoming spotty, the family’s newest business venture might be its redeeming feature. Launched last February, Makaziwe and Tukwini Mandela founded “The House of Mandela” which is their new wine company. Tukwini insists that some of the proceeds will be donated to charity.

*Mandela’s current wife is Graca Machel, who has been expressing her gratitude for the well wishes that have poured in from around the world.

Nelson Mandela in July 2012. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File)

From Essence

Former South African president Nelson Mandela is back in hospital for a recurring lung infection, reports the Associated Press.

Madiba, as he is affectionately known, was admitted to a Pretoria (the capital of South Africa) hospital last night after his “condition deteriorated” according to a statement from the office of current President Jacob Zuma.

“Doctors are doing everything possible to make him better and comfortable,” continued the statement.

The 94-year-old statesman and his family have received an outpouring of support and concern from supporters at home and abroad, especially after his four hospitalizations in the past few months. His last discharge was on April 6 after a 10-day hospital stay where doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia. In March he was also hospitalized for what doctors called a routing medical test. Last December he was hospitalized for a lung infection and had his gallstones removed.

You can read the rest over on Essence.com, including a statement from the African National Congress.  Surely, these last few months have been hard for Mandela and his family.  We wish him a safe recovery.

Despite all the commotion over Brit hottie Idris Elba playing iconic figure Nelson Mandela in the upcoming film, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, the movie is definitely happening. The first poster has just dropped and it shows Elba covered in facial hair, brooding in the camera. In all honesty, Elba isn’t screaming Mandela in this picture. He just looks cool. But during the Cannes Film Festival, a trailer for the film was shown, and TwitchFilm seemed happy with what the movie has to offer so far, so maybe we all should be too:

“This is not your dad’s HBO Mandela film,” quipped Harvey after the trailer ran. I honestly have no idea what that means, but the film, starring Idris Elba as the South African leader, did look to be a very well executed period piece and plenty exciting.”

The movie is set to come out in November, specifically November 29, and it also stars Naomie Harris from the Bond film Skyfall, who will play Winnie Mandela. According to Shadow and Act, Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom will cover everything from the revolutionary leader’s early years to the 27 years he spent in prison. The complete tale of his life, according to Idris Elba, is what makes his biopic, out of the trillion that have already been done about Mandela (including Invictus with Morgan Freeman and the shelved Winnie with Terrence Howard), a must-see:

“…my film’s about his entire life. Anyone wanting to understand who Mandela was should go and watch my film. Morgan Freeman is outstanding. Terrence Howard is an outstanding actor. But my film is about his life.”

Despite the physical differences, I think we all know that Elba can bring it as an actor, so I think he might pleasantly surprise everybody when the film is released in November. Do you think you’ll check it out?

Before Zoe Saldana signed on to play Nina Simone, or Idris Elba said he would try his hand at doing Nelson Mandela, or even before there was any kind of talk of Lenny Kravitz playing Marvin Gaye (which he eventually changed his mind about), actors were getting major side-eyes from movie fans and critics alike for trying to portray certain people on-screen. It’s always going to be something, and it has always been something for people to complain about: She’s too light, she’s not the same culture as that person, he’s not light enough, he’s not cool enough. People are often shut down by folks before there’s a trailer, a scene–anything to judge by. But as these actors went on to prove (some didn’t though), talent can trump a lot of that criticism. Here are nine people who initially were counted out from their biopic roles but ended up either killing it, or embarrassing themselves.

Nelson Mandela in July 2012. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File)

Former South African president and apartheid freedom fighter Nelson Mandela has been in failing health as of late, but he’s still a source of ongoing inspiration. However, his family is already fighting over control of the family-owned companies. According to The Huffington Post, Mandela’s granddaughter, Tukwini Mandela, is vying to take over the reigns. She has been an outspoken critic of  a longtime Mandela associate, lawyer George Bizos. Tukwini has accused Bizos of not only insulting her mother but also of slandering the Mandela family name and spreading “blatant lies and innuendo” in a tug-of-war over control of two companies connected to her 94-year-old grandfather.  “The main purpose of the companies is to channel funds from the sale of handprint artwork by Mandela for the benefit of his family,” reports HuffPo.

Bizos defended Mandela during the Rivonia trial in the 1960s that led to the African National Congress leader’s conviction on sabotage charges and a sentence of life imprisonment. Bizos, who was born in Greece, is one of the directors of  the two companies associated with Mandela– Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique Investment Holdings. “Makaziwe Mandela, Tukwini’s mother,  and her sister Zenani have launched a court case against Bizos and other associates of Nelson Mandela, alleging they should not remain directors of Harmonieux Investment Holdings and Magnifique Investment Holdings because they were not properly appointed. The case also alleges that the trio has neglected its duties at the helm of the companies,” reports HuffPo.

Nelson Mandelas daughter Makaziwe on the left, and granddaughter Tukwini at right. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Bizos complained to a local paper that Makaziwe Mandela wanted  to take some company money, estimated to be $1.3 million, without providing details of how it would be used. That is contrary to the provisions of the trust. Therefore we refused to give her the money,” he told The Star newspaper.

Tukwini Mandela issued an open letter to Bizos that was emailed to the Associated Press recently. In it, she urged the lawyer, who is known also as a civil rights activist,  to act in a manner “befitting of your status” in society.

The 84-year-old Bizos, who works at South African human rights group Legal Resources Center,  responded in a statement to AP, saying he had not been disrespectful to Nelson Mandela or his family. “I have been a close friend and supporter of the family for over six decades,” he wrote.

The Mandela family has been the spotlight a lot lately: Tukwini Mandela is the marketing director of House of Mandela Wines, which recently expanded operations to the U.S. And two other granddaughters of Mandela are starring in a U.S. television reality show titled Being Mandela.

Nelson Mandela was South Africa’s first black president and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He spent 27 years in prison during white  Apartheid rule of  South Africa.

Do you think these sort of legal squabbles soil the Mandela name?

Separately but related, Mandela grandsons Kweku and Ndaba have organized a New York City event tonight in Times Square where the crowd will be invited to share inspiration thoughts and view a video installation. Details here.

Update: The grandchildren of Mandela have issued a statement declaring the lawsuit isn’t about money: that they are not seeking control to gain access to the funds, reports Huffington Post. “Most of us are gainfully employed, work for our own companies and run our own projects,” they said in a statement.

Talk about Mandela family values…

According to published reports, Makaziwe and Zenani Mandela, half-sisters and daughters of famed anti-apartheid leader and former South African president Nelson Mandela, are suing three former associates of their grandfather, for ownership of two investment holdings linked to the 94-year-old revered leader. In a dispute, which appears to be playing out in the press as much as it is in the courts right now, Tukwini Mandela, daughter of Makaziwe and granddaughter of Mandela, wrote an open letter to the Associated Press, accusing George Bizos, longtime Mandela associate and the accused in the case, of slandering the Mandela family name with comments he made that the Mandela children were only interested in gaining control of the companies so that they can have control of the money.

Of course, all of this was happening as the former president was in the hospital for a recurring lung infection. And according to the Canadian Globe and Mail, the latest public dispute over money has added fuel to an already growing chorus of disenchanted South Africans, who feel like members of the family are putting their own personal capitalistic interests over the Mandela name. Outside of the investment holdings, which is said to make money from the hand-printed artwork of Mandela, Makaziwe and daughter Tukwini are heading up the House of Mandela wine business, which produces vintage Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from various vineyards chosen by the Mandelas. Tukwini’s brother, Kweku, is a filmmaker, who has made films around the Mandela’s life and legacy. And then there is the reality TV show and the fashion clothing line – the latter of which was at the center of another well-publicized dispute, which resulted in ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and their two daughters, Zindzi and Zenani, boycotting his 90^th birthday over not being properly consulted about the clothing line. All the public bickering and money-chasing has inspired one South African newspaper cartoonist to feature the family members in a cartoon where they are playing “Squabble – the Mandela Family Game,” on Mandela’s dormant body.

I am less interested in whether or not the family is right in their case against Mandela’s former attorney, mainly because I don’t know enough to speak on it, and while the public feuding is a mess, it is certainly not exclusive. You can throw a $20 bill in the middle of a circle of my family members and see if a free-for-all doesn’t happen. So I don’t expect anything different from any other family, just because they have a legacy attached to their names. But I do want to discuss this underlying question about whether or not the Mandela family should be profiting off of his image. Without it being expressed as much, I think that this is what is at the center of what irks people most about stories like these involving notable figures. Just ask the descendents of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The King family currently operates his foundation, which also serves as the intellectual properties management of all things Dr. King-related, including providing licensing for the use of his speeches. Most recently, the King family drew scrutiny for its refusal to allow the organization which helped to get the memorial statue built in Washington D.C. to continue to use King’s name. This occurred after the organization, which was called the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation and is now called The Memorial Foundation, had already paid approximately $800,000 in licensing fees. In fact, the King family has a long history of profiting off of the slain civil rights leader’s name, including signing a multimedia publishing deal in 1997 with Time Warner reportedly worth $30 million to $50 million, and their selling of King paraphernalia in private auctions. Also, while the general public may have limited access to the “I Have a Dream,” corporations and media giants alike, those who can afford the King family’s licensing fee can reap the benefits of his legacy to sell things like cell phones.

Since King was a man of the people, folks assume that his image should forever be public domain. I mean, isn’t that what a man, who fought not just for racial equality, but against economic subjugation would have wanted? But it would behoove most to know that once upon a time – in December of 1963 to be exact – King sued Mister Maestro, Inc., a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Records to stop the unauthorized sale of one of his recorded speeches, claiming copyright infringement. So at least it would appear that the patriarch of the family was well aware that his image had to be protected.

And I think that protection, including having a say over who and how an image is used, is probably one of the greatest reasons why family members should retain control. Also, so much of these people’s lives are up for public consumption. And while King or Mandela devoted themselves to the greater good, it probably didn’t lend much in the way of financial security for their family. And despite whatever worldly problems that exist, being able to provide and tend to one’s own household comes first. Therefore, while I may cringe at how the names are used, who am I to tell the family members how they should benefit from their own legacy? I mean, if the family doesn’t get to profit, than who?

Danny Clifford/WENN

Friends, family and supporters of Nelson Mandela are surely breathing a sigh of relief.

The former South African president has been discharged from the hospital after a bout with pneumonia. He had been in a hospital in Pretoria since March 27th.  The Telegraph posted a video of Mandela being returned to his Johannesburg home in an ambulance.

A spokesperson for the 94 year old Mandela said that he will now have home based high care after the doctors confirmed his condition had improved.

His spokesperson also thanked the hospital and team for taking care of Mandela while he was being treated.

This is the third time since December that Mandela has been in the hospital in Pretoria for health issues.  His last visit included surgery and recovery from a lung infection.

As we know Mandela is beloved around the world so hopefully, he will continue to get better and fully recover from pneumonia.  We’d love it if he didn’t return to Pretoria again – at least not for a hospital stay – but we know this must all be taken one day at a time.

Our prayers and well wishes go out to Nelson Mandela!

Nelson Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe Mandela (left) and his granddaughter Tukwini Mandela with some of their wine. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

It seems like a strange combination—wine and 94-year-old South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. But he and his family have officially launched the House of Mandela Wines in the United States. The label launched in South Africa in 2010. But Mr. Mandela is actually a wine lover–in moderation. Since his release from prison, Mandela has one glass of wine each week. Add to that, South Africa is becoming increasingly known for its fine wines.

“The wine movement is growing,” Tukwini Mandela, his granddaughter, told The Huffington Post. “More and more people are experimenting with wine beyond spirit drinks. And there’s a large segment of the black community who is interested in wine now.”

House of Mandela Wines, offering blends of red and white grapes, was launched last week during the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Prices range from about $12 to $50 for its royal reserve collection. The line includes red, white and sparkling wines, and a pinotage that is a Mandela family favorite. Pinotage is rare for South Africa, where the industry is dominated by red wines.

The logo is an image of a bee, which symbolizes compassion, sharing, humanity and “one who is brave enough to challenge the status quo.”

“We are praising our ancestors,” said Tukwini Mandela. “We are telling the story of our family and who we come from with these wines so it’s only natural that we would use the name Mandela.”

“It’s a reflection that South Africa is maturing in terms of its wine product,” said Makaziwe Mandela, daughter of the former president of South Africa. “There is a lot of synergy between wine and our family. But when you look at how the vine grows, the vine doesn’t grow in a straight line. It twists and turns, representing the twists and turns of life. Life is not a straight line. What we are proud of is that out of adversity we helped create a wonderful experience.”

Part of the proceeds from House of Mandela will go to charitable groups working to resolve education, health, culture, and energy issues in South Africa.

It is not the first business started in Mandela name. In fact, some critics say the his name and image are being exploited. According to The Network Journal, The Nelson Mandela Foundation began to take efforts  in 2009 to avoid Mandela’s name from being exploited, such as distancing itself from a clothing line using his prison number, 46664 Apparel.

WENN.com

Every year there are plenty of odes to some of the world’s most prominent people. This past year it was Abraham Lincoln. It was Alfred Hitchcock. It was Margaret Thatcher. But who should be next to have their life story told on the silver screen? Madame Noire makes its picks for 15 legends who deserve some cinematic recognition.