Cannes - A teaser poster for a film adaptation of former president Nelson Mandela's autobiography has been unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival in France, Channel 24 reported on Monday.
The poster for the film, “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom”, was publicly released at the festival on Sunday.
The key image on the poster is a close-up photograph of Idris Elba, who plays the title role, in three-quarter profile.
The striking image shows Elba's bearded face tinged with yellow against a red background.
Above the name of the film, the poster bears the legend: “It is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”.
The text is a quote from the statement Mandela made on April 20, 1964 in the dock at the Supreme Court in Pretoria, during the Rivonia treason trial.
The film's producer Anant Singh and co-chairman of The Weinstein Company, Harvey Weinstein, released the film at Cannes. The company has acquired the distribution rights for the movie in the United States.
A series of teaser images would be released in the coming weeks to promote the film, which stars British actors Elba and Naomie Harris as Nelson and Winnie Mandela.
South African actors also appear in the film. Gys de Villiers plays former president FW De Klerk, Fana Mokoena plays Govan Mbeki, and singer Nomfusi Gotyana plays Miriam Makeba.
Comedians Riaad Moosa and Rob van Vuuren, as well as Totsi actress Terry Pheto and Blood Diamond actor Grant Swanby also appear in the film.
“Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom” is expected to be released in South Africa on December 6. - Sapa