With Morgan Freeman receiving high marks as former South African president Nelson Mandela in 'Invictus,' which opens today, many are not pleased with the recent casting of another Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson, who will play Nelson's wife, Winnie Mandela, in a biopic called ''Winnie.'
According to reports, the Creative Workers Union of South Africa said using foreign actors to tell the country's stories undermined efforts to develop the national film industry.
"This decision must be reversed, it must be stopped now," union Secretary General Oupa Lebogo said in 'The Times.' "If the matter doesn't come up for discussion, we will push for a moratorium to be placed on the film."
"It can't happen that we want to develop our own Hollywood and yet bring in imports," the union's leader Mabutho Sithole told 'The Citizen' newspaper.
The film will be directed by South African film-maker Darrell J. Roodt, whose films include 'Cry, The Beloved Country' and 'Sarafina.' Interesting enough, African American actors James Earl Jones and Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg were the stars of the those films respectively.
While some may argue that Hudson still needs more films under her belt to be taken seriously in the business and that she won the Oscar on the strength of her singing, the Chicago native has done impressive work in independent films that may not have been seen by many.
Earlier this year, she played opposite Forest Whitaker in 'Winged Creatures,' and last year starred opposite Dakota Fanning and Queen Latifah in 'The Secret Life of Bees.' On the music scene, she won the 2009 Grammy for R&B Album of the Year.
Meanwhile, there were no complaints when British actress and another 'Bees' castmate Sophie Okonedo landed the role of Mandela for a BBC telefilm titled 'Mrs. Mandela.' That film was shot on location in and around Soweto, and focuses on the development of the relationship between Winnie and her husband from their brief courtship in the 1950s to the aftermath of his release from prison in 1990.
Jennifer Hudson Pictures
Singer Jennifer Hudson waves to fans when she performs on NBC's "Today" show at Rockefeller Center on May 15, 2009 in New York City..Jennifer Hudson Performs On NBC's "Today" - May 15, 2009.Rockefeller Center.New York, NY United States.May 15, 2009.Photo by Al Pereira/WireImage.com..To license this image (16800585), contact WireImage.com
Singer Jennifer Hudson performs on NBC's "Today" show at Rockefeller Center on May 15, 2009 in New York City..Jennifer Hudson Performs On NBC's "Today" - May 15, 2009.Rockefeller Center.New York, NY United States.May 15, 2009.Photo by Al Pereira/WireImage.com..To license this image (16800570), contact WireImage.com
Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson appears on NBC "Today" television show in New York, Friday, May 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: Singer Robin Thicke performs at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: Singer Robin Thicke (L) and musical director/keyboardist Larry Cox perform at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: (L-R) Bassist Greg Malone, singer Robin Thicke, musical director/keyboardist Larry Cox and guitarist Andrew McKay perform at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: (L-R) Bassist Greg Malone, singer Robin Thicke and guitarist Andrew McKay perform at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: (L-R) Bassist Greg Malone, singer Robin Thicke, musical director/keyboardist Larry Cox and guitarist Andrew McKay perform at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: Singer Robin Thicke performs at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: Singer Robin Thicke (C) performs at The Pearl concert theater at the Palms Casino Resort May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Comments: (8)
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By: Officebi on 12/14/2009 10:47AM
The issue is not whether Jennifer Hudson got what it takes. The issue is: How can we encourage the development of African film industries when we continue to ignore the use and exposure of many good indigenous African actors/actresses while casting roles depicting prominent Africans like Mandela, Winnie Mandela, Nkrumah, Azikiwe, Idi Amin, Nyerere, etc.?
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By: Sheree on 12/14/2009 2:04PM
that's exacly correct! jennifer is an ok actress but africa has it's own hollywood called Nollywood: we need to help promote and support the stars of that country: we woudln't want them playing American versions of us so why should we take away their jobs?
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By: Lanette on 12/14/2009 8:08PM
How come nobody is beefin about Morgan Freeman playing Mandela? What gives....?
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By: sharkchops on 12/17/2009 8:46AM
@Lanette: Because "Invictus" is a Clint Eastwood movie, not an african production. Eastwood uses his own actors and he and Freeman have an association.
Im sure Hudson could do a decent job but that production is a chance for the African movie industry to get noticed on its own terms. They should hire one of their own.
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By: Michelle on 12/15/2009 12:48AM
Jennifer will play a wonderful role. Why is everyone
making a big fuss over this. If they pick a actress
that is unknown, just because South African. The
movie will fail.
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By: Vil4Real on 12/15/2009 8:50PM
Your voting poll should have asked the question of “should she” and not “if she had the right stuff.” If course she has the right stuff, but should she? No, why not let a South African actress portray Winnie Mandela? I'm sure there are many of them looking for roles as well as our Black sista her in America. Besides, didn't we, as Black American criticize Elizabeth Taylor for playing Queen Cleopatra and Egyptians and didn’t we have enough to say about those white actors/actresses that played Native Americans in all those Westerns. I know I did and I didn't like it. So, I sympathize with the Creative Workers Union of South Africa. There are many Black American Sheroes stories to be told may be she could work on get those to screen. Love you Jenny and nothing against you girl, wit yo' talented ass, but I gotta go wit the Creative Workers on this one.
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By: Heather on 12/18/2009 1:42AM
Why is the focus on Jennifer and not the director who seems to have a hankering for American actors in his South African productions. Take him to task for his casting and stop placing the blame on Jen when all she did was take a job that was offered to her.
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By: Nicole on 1/08/2010 3:32PM
I dont care who plays that Vile Woman, I am disturbed atthe fact that Jennifer Hudson called Winnie a "Remarkable women", Does she even know what Winnie did to her own people, how she destroyed families, and violated so many laws and rules by Both the South African Goverment and The ANC. I think its disgusting that they are even making a movie about her. Sh eis the most Vile, sodistic women in this world, I dont know what Nelson saw in her. The only person that should be getting any Spot light is Nelson for his wonderful work as a Humanitarian. As for Jennifer Hudson, dont play this Vile women, and maybe brush up on your South African History before you call some one an extrodionary women. (Winnie murdered, children, women, elders and men. Research "winnies Necklace" "
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