Jennifer Hudson to Play Winnie Mandela in Indie Biopic?

By On 10/22/2009 · 15 Comments · In American Idol

Roger Friedman, of The Hollywood Reporter,   reports that Jennifer Hudson is rumored to be in talks to star in an indie biopic about South African leader, Winnie Mandela.

Hudson, who won the Academy Award for ‘Dreamgirls’  and was so good in ‘The Secret Life of Bees,’  is now rumored to be in talks for an indie biopic about South African leader Winnie Mandela. Winnie was a winner during her years as wife of Nelson Mandela during his 27-years of illegal incarceration. But in later years she lost her way, getting into legal trouble and becoming a pariah. She and Mandela have been divorced for some time.

The word is that either the terrific Derek Luke or actor Idris Elba might be up for the part of Nelson Mandela. Details are still sketchy.

Jennifer performed at Denise Rich’s annual Angel Ball Tuesday night. Introduced by Clive Davis, Jennifer sang ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’  with just piano accompaniment to whoops and hollers from the celebrity-filled audience.

Playing Winnie equals more Oscar-bait for Jennifer.   It could be another juicy role for her.

 
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  • jtoms

    wow. she’s come so far. so proud of her.

    isn’t there also a nelson mandela biopic coming out with morgan freeman?

  • Reflections On Life

    of all the idols, she is having one epic career thus far! respect!

  • alxsavage

    of all the idols, she is having one epic career thus far! respect!

    I agree, she is the one who has actually had the biggest international projection, and earned the respect of an absolutely separate industry than any other idol.

  • http://mollyblogsidol.wordpress.com Molly (aka sparklesgirl2)

    i love the idea of jennifer in that role… but not the idea of idris elba as nelson mandela. i haven’t seen him in much, but what i have seen has not impressed me. not sure who derek luke is–maybe he’d be better.

    still, go jennifer!

  • dreyraglin

    Hopefully Jennifer locks in the role. It could make a great film and hopefully another movie award sweep for her as she did with Dreamgirls. For those not familiar with Derek Luke he was the lead role in the 2002 movie “Antwone Fisher” alongside Denzel Washington and he was pretty good in that. I think he would be good for it Nelson.

  • http://www.fatladysings.us TFLS

    That’s a good fit. She looks rather like Winnie Mandela. And I think you’re right about the role being Oscar-bait. Jennifer could use a passel of good in her life from now on. Pretty cool all ’round.

  • will

    i love the idea of jennifer in that role’ ¦ but not the idea of idris elba as nelson mandela. i haven’t seen him in much, but what i have seen has not impressed me.

    Heresy! His portrayal of Stringer Bell is a classic.

  • abbysee

    Oh boy, am I the only one who wants her to do lighter fare? Play a younger less beleaguered character. The role of Winne Mandela is fraught with too many landmines to be an automatic shoe in for an Oscar. She does look a bit like Winnie though…

  • LoveContinuum

    Jennifer is way too nice a person to be playing Winnie Madigazela-Mandela. That woman is one of the most evil (and I don’t use that word often) people in the world today. I’m surprised Nelson (a brilliant role model to us all, long may he live) didn’t divorce her while he was still in jail. I could tell you stories about her that would make your head spin. Horrible, horrible woman. If Jennifer has to immerse herself in that role, I feel sorry for her. I’m sure she can do it, she’s a great actor. But whew, to get inside Winnie’s head will be a rough deal.

  • abbysee

    I could tell you stories about her that would make your head spin.

    That is why I don’t want Jennifer to step into this mindfield. Either it will be a warts and all movie that has to go ‘there’, or it will be a white-wash, which will undoubtedly be torn apart by those of us who know more of the Winnie story. Jennifer needs to look elsewhere.

  • bridgette12

    I think this role will be great for Jennifer. It’s a role that will help make her a better actress. Sometimes you can’t always play the good girl roles, playing Winnie Mendela is a great chance to really go outside her comfort zone. This has Oscar written all over it.

  • SarahP

    i love jennifer! i’ve never seen her on idol and havent even youtubed her performances but her acting skills! wow..she’s got such a strong and beautiful personality…

    good for her!

  • k0ka

    This will be interesting to watch, if it actually happens.

  • chessguy99

    One wonders what spin will be put on this movie. If they go with the warts and all story, it could be a powerful role. Definite Best Actress nomination just for being brave enough to play it. If they go for see no evil version, it could ruin her career.

  • dreyraglin

    As far as ruining her career I don’t see that happening where it hurts her credibility as an actress but only hurting the people who produce and write the script. Jennifer has so far carefully picked her roles in movies as a form of quality over quantity. She said in a interview once that “its not about how many movies she does but the quality the movie brings” and this quote has echoed in decisions doing movies like Dreamgirls, SATC, and The Secret Life Of Bees. Those films gave her quality roles that she chose not just because she won an Oscar but because she’s wise about the movies she plays in.

    All and all highly doubt Jennifer would be getting involved in a movie that doesn’t tell the whole truth especially if it is a biopic. It’s good to see her stepping into the “Best Actress” category if the movie comes into full circle and she gets the part.