Morgan Freeman to show Invictus to Nelson Mandela in South Africa

by Frank Liao | December 4, 2009 at 12:14 pm

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Morgan Freeman is on his way to South Africa to show his new film, Invictus, to Nelson Mandela. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Ivictus tells the true story of the South African rugby team that won the 1995 Rugby World Cup. President Nelson Mandela joined forces with South Africa's ruby team captain, Francois Pienaar, to help unite the country.

Morgan Freeman is excited to hop on the plane next week and share 'Invictus' with "Madiba," Nelson Mandela's nickname in South Africa.

Freeman met Mandela in the early '90s and soon became friends. Mandela has always wanted Freeman to play him in a movie.

"He told me he wanted me to play him in a movie someday (and) I said, 'Then I need access to you, and I need to be able to hold your hand.' He said, 'We'll do that.'"

"So anytime we were anywhere in proximity after that, we'd schmooze. I've always been preparing for the time I stepped in front of the camera as him. The luckiest part of my entire existence is finding this script and sending it to Clint, and then he said, 'Yes.'"

Invictus opens in the USA and Canada on December 11th. The film stars Morgan Freeman as President Nelson Mandela, and Matt Damon as rugby captain Francois Pienaar.