BET Networks has officially announced that American actor Laurence Fishburne will play philanthropist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela.
Best known for his role as Morpheus in the Matrix series, Fishburne will star in the six-hour series, which has been titled Madiba.
Mandela’s grandson, Kweku Mandela will produce and Prison Break’s Kevin Hooks will direct the miniseries.
Two of Mandela’s books, Conversations with Myself and Nelson Mandela by Himself will give the basis for the series which is named after Nelson’s Thembu clan name, Madiba, added Deadline.
The story will center during the early 1960s when a younger Mandela aided the political unrest of apartheid in South Africa.
The revolutionary traveled the country disguised as a chauffeur, organizing a mass stay-at-home strike which became referred to as the Black Pimpernel in the press.
While there have been a number of movies about the life of political prisoner Nelson Mandela, Stephen Hill, President of Programming for BET Networks is especially thrilled to debut their mini series featuring the Emmy Award-winning actor.
‘Nelson Mandela’s journey of political activism and leadership is deeply inspirational and we are proud to have the talented and award-winning actor Laurence Fishburne join Madiba to tell this triumphant story,’ Hill said.
Mandela has also been portrayed by Morgan Freeman, Sidney Poitier, Idris Elba, Dennis Haysbert, Terrence Howard and Danny Glover.
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