South Africa News: Mandela miniseries in production
A new miniseries is being produced to tell the story of Nelson Mandela’s life. Here, Mandela and wife Graca Machel wave to the crowds prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Nelson Mandela is to hit the, err, small screen.
A $20 million 6-part TV mini-series is in the pipeline that will tell the life story of Mandela from his early days in the village, through political awakening and activism, trial and subsequent 27-year incarceration, eventual freedom and election to president, retirement, international veneration and final elevation to the Godhead. That last bit's made up, but the 93 year old's still got time …
The series, tentatively titled "Madiba" after the clan name by which he is known in South Africa, has apparently gained the approval of the former president and his grandson Kweku Mandela is one of the producers.
The BBC reports that when Kweku told his granddad about the series he joked, "How much am I getting paid?"
Casting has not yet been done but filming is scheduled to begin in South Africa later in the year.
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