Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom - wikipedia Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom Theatrical release poster Directed by Justin Chadwick Produced by David M. Thompson Anant Singh Screenplay by William Nicholson Based on Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela Starring Idris Elba Naomie Harris Music by Alex Heffes U2 Cinematography Lol Crawley Edited by Rick Russell Production company Pathé Videovision Entertainment Distant Horizon Origin Pictures Distributed by 20th Century Fox Release date 7 September 2013 ( 2013 - 09 - 07 ) ( TIFF ) 28 November 2013 ( 2013 - 11 - 28 ) ( South Africa ) 3 January 2014 ( 2014 - 01 - 03 ) ( United Kingdom ) Running time 146 minutes Country United Kingdom South Africa Language English Xhosa Afrikaans Budget $35 million Box office $27.3 million Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom is a 2013 British - South African biographical film directed by Justin Chadwick from a script written by William Nicholson and starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris. The film is based on the 1995 autobiographical book Long Walk to Freedom by anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African President Nelson Mandela. Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 3.1 Music 4 Release 4.1 Critical response 5 Historical accuracy 6 Awards 7 References 8 External links Plot Based on South African President Nelson Mandela 's autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President of South Africa and working to rebuild the country 's once segregated society. Cast Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela ( older adult ) Atandwa Kani as Nelson Mandela ( age 16 -- 23 ) Siza Pini as Nelson Mandela ( age 7 -- 9 ) Naomie Harris as Winnie Madikizela Tony Kgoroge as Walter Sisulu S'Thandiwe Kgoroge as Albertina Sisulu Riaad Moosa as Ahmed Kathrada Zolani Mkiva as Raymond Mhlaba Simo Mogwaza as Andrew Mlangeni Tshallo Sputla Chokwe as Oliver Tambo Fana Mokoena as Govan Mbeki James Cunningham as George Bizos Thapelo Mokoena as Elias Motsoaledi Jamie Bartlett as James Gregory Deon Lotz as Kobie Coetzee Terry Pheto as Evelyn Mase Sello Maake as Albert Lutuli Gys de Villiers as F.W. de Klerk Zenzo Ngqobe as Patrick Lekota Carl Beukes as Niel Barnard A.J. van der Merwe as Fanie van der Merwe Nomfusi Gotyana as Miriam Makeba Andre Jacobs as Bram Fischer Louis van Niekerk as Quartus de Wet Adam Neill as Percy Yutar Lindiwe Matshikiza as Zindzi Mandela ( age 28 -- 32 ) Refilwe Charles as Zindzi Mandela ( age 8 -- 12 ) Semuhle Shangasi as Zenani Mandela ( age 28 -- 32 ) Khumbuzile Maphumulo as Zenani Mandela ( age 8 -- 12 ) John Herbert as Arthur Goldreich Production Producer Anant Singh started working on the project after interviewing Mandela while he was still imprisoned two decades prior. Following the publication of Mandela 's autobiography, Singh was granted the rights to the film adaptation, which was completed 16 years later by screenwriter William Nicholson. The film is directed by Justin Chadwick. Music For the film, U2 wrote the song `` Ordinary Love ''. Subscribers of the band 's official website were able to hear a short snippet first. Release The film held its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2013. It was released on 28 November 2013 in South Africa and on 3 January 2014 in the United Kingdom, a week before and a month after Mandela died, respectively. Long Walk to Freedom premiered in London on 5 December 2013 as a Royal Film Performance, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in attendance, along with Mandela 's daughters Zindzi and Zenani. The announcement of the death of Nelson Mandela occurred while the film was being screened ; The Duke and Duchess were immediately informed of Nelson 's passing, while producer Anant Singh ( alongside Idris Elba ) took the stage during the closing credits to inform patrons of Mandela 's passing, and held a moment of silence. Prince William made brief comments to the press while exiting the theatre, stating that `` I just wanted to say it 's extremely sad and tragic news. We were just reminded what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family right now. '' The film was temporarily pulled from theatres in South Africa the next day out of respect, but returned on 7 December 2013. On 8 December to mark the launch of the film a Gala dinner, private screening and charity auction in aid of the children 's charity Onetoonechildrensfund. Sir Trevor McDonald was Master of Ceremonies for the evening, introducing the auction where one of a limited edition of 6 portrait heads of Nelson Mandela, sculpted from life by David Cregeen. The head was donated by the sculptor and sold in aid of the charity 's work in South Africa. Critical response On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 61 % based on 130 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2 / 10. The site 's critical consensus reads, `` It might be too respectful to truly soar, but there 's no denying Idris Elba 's impressive work in Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom -- or the inspirational power of the life it depicts. '' At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating to reviews, the film has an average score of 60 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating `` mixed or average reviews ''. Scott Foundas of Variety said the film `` never opts for a light touch when a sledgehammer will do '', but also praises Elba for `` a towering performance, a Mandela for the ages ''. Claudia Puig of USA Today agreed that Elba 's performance was powerful but felt the film was not as strong, stating, `` Earnest and ambitious, the film suffers from trying to squeeze in too many milestones of Nelson Mandela 's long life as he worked to end the oppressive regime of apartheid in South Africa. But the talent of the lead actors lends it heft, particularly the commanding performance of Idris Elba as Mandela. '' Jordan Hoffman from Film.com also gave the film a mixed to negative review : `` Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom should have been a layup. A slow burn leading to eventual triumph, moving speeches, Idris Elba raging against injustice, the world made a better place because of one man 's sacrifice. But as crazy and offensive as it may sound, you 'll get more chills from Elba 's idiotic speech about canceling the apocalypse in Pacific Rim than you will in this by - the - numbers bore. '' However, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film a generally positive review with 2 and a half out of 4 stars, mostly circling the performances. Screenwriter William Nicholson claimed it did n't do better because of the movie 12 Years a Slave : `` 12 Years a Slave came out in America and that sucked up all the guilt about black people that was available. They were so exhausted feeling guilty about slavery that I do n't think there was much left over to be nice about our film. '' He also speculated that the death of Mandela resulted in a Mandela `` overdose '' among people, so that they have had enough of him when the movie finally hit the theatres ; `` Suddenly the word came through that he died. We were deluged with Mandela stuff and after a week we all thought, please, take it away, we 've heard enough about Mandela. '' Historical accuracy Vincent Hiribarren, a lecturer in world history at King 's College London, notes in his review of the film for History Extra, the website of BBC History Magazine : `` ( The film ) clearly depicted Mandela 's understanding of the apartheid years. Or, at least, what he wanted to let us know. As the film is not based on Mandela 's life but on Mandela 's own words, criticism levelled at Mandela 's autobiography can also be directed at the film. '' Turning to the 1976 Soweto uprising, Hiribarren said that the film `` did not spend much time evoking this pivotal event, because Mandela did not say much about Soweto in his book. The Soweto uprising was, however, instrumental in creating a new political climate in South Africa that directly led to the politicisation of many young South Africans. '' Hiribarren awarded the film three stars for historical accuracy, and five for enjoyment. Awards Awards Award Category Name Result 86th Academy Awards Best Original Song U2 for `` Ordinary Love '' Nominated ABFF Hollywood Awards Artist of the Year Idris Elba ( also for Pacific Rim and Thor : The Dark World ) Nominated 71st Golden Globe Awards Best Actor -- Motion Picture Drama Idris Elba Nominated Best Original Score Alex Heffes Nominated Best Original Song -- Motion Picture U2 and Danger Mouse ( `` Ordinary Love '' ) Won 19th Critics ' Choice Awards Best Song Nominated Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing : Music Score in a Feature Film Lewis Morison Nominated References Jump up ^ `` MANDELA : LONG WALK TO FREEDOM ( 12A ) ''. British Board of Film Classification. 19 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Mandela Long Walk to Freedom ''. British Film Institute. Retrieved 2 December 2013. Jump up ^ Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom, Dark Horizons. Dark Horizons. Retrieved 4 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ( 2013 ) ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 1 April 2014. Jump up ^ `` Weinstein Company to release ' Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ' ''. Yahoo ! Movies. Yahoo !. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013. Jump up ^ `` Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ''. The Weinstein Company. 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Nelson Mandela Biopic Explores What Makes a Fearless Leader Tick ''. Rolling Stone. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` U2 - Ordinary Love ( From Mandela OST ) Lyric Video ''. youtube.com. U2VEVO. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2017. U2 premieres their new song Ordinary Love ( from Mandela : Long Walk To Freedom ). Jump up ^ `` ' Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ' Trailer Features New U2 Song ' Ordinary Love ' ''. The Wall Street Journal. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013. Jump up ^ `` Ordinary Love ''. U2.com. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013. Jump up ^ `` Nelson Mandela biopic to have world premiere at Toronto ''. BBC News. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Nelson Mandela death announced at Long Walk to Freedom film premiere ''. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 9 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Nelson Mandela Mourned By William and Kate at Royal Film Performance ''. Variety. Retrieved 9 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` How ' Mandela ' Royal Premiere Audience Reacted to News of Leader 's Death ( Exclusive Video ) ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 13 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom Reviews ''. Metacritic. Retrieved 13 January 2014. Jump up ^ Leydon, Joe ( 17 September 2013 ). `` Toronto Film Review : ' Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ' ''. Variety. Retrieved 20 November 2013. Jump up ^ `` ' Long Walk to Freedom ' does n't do Mandela 's journey justice ''. Usatoday.com. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013. Jump up ^ The 100 Best Movie Scenes of 2013 ( 29 November 2013 ). `` Review : ' Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ' ''. Film.com. Retrieved 21 December 2013. Jump up ^ Peter Travers ( 27 November 2013 ). `` ' Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ' Movie Review Movie Reviews ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 December 2013. Jump up ^ 12 Years a Slave ruined my Mandela biopic, says screenwriter ^ Jump up to : `` Historian at the Movies : Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom reviewed ''. History Extra. Retrieved 7 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` Golden Globe Awards Nominations : ' 12 Years A Slave ' & ' American Hustle ' Lead Pack ''. Deadline. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Golden Globe Awards Winners ''. Variety. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014. Jump up ^ Peter Gicas ( 16 December 2013 ). `` Critics ' Choice Awards 2014 : Complete List of Nominations ''. E ! Online. Retrieved 16 December 2013. Jump up ^ Walsh, Jason ( 15 January 2014 ). `` Sound Editors Announce 2013 Golden Reel Nominees ''. Variety. Retrieved 15 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` ' Gravity ' and ' 12 Years a Slave ' lead MPSE Golden Reel Awards nominations ''. HitFix. Retrieved 15 January 2014. External links Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom on IMDb Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom at Rotten Tomatoes Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom at Box Office Mojo Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom at Metacritic Films directed by Justin Chadwick The Other Boleyn Girl ( 2008 ) The First Grader ( 2010 ) Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ( 2013 ) Tulip Fever ( 2017 ) Works by William Nicholson Novels Wind on Fire The Wind Singer Slaves of the Mastery Firesong Noble Warriors Seeker Jango Noman The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life Plays Shadowlands The Retreat from Moscow Films directed Firelight Hope Gap Films written Martin Luther, Heretic Shadowlands Nell First Knight Grey Owl Gladiator Elizabeth : The Golden Age Les Misérables Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom Unbroken Everest Breathe Nelson Mandela 18 July 1918 -- 5 December 2013 President of South Africa ( 1994 -- 1999 ) President of the African National Congress ( 1991 -- 1997 ) Life Early life Mandela and Tambo law firm Umkhonto we Sizwe 1955 Congress of the People Freedom Charter Treason Trial Rivonia Trial Robben Island Pollsmoor Prison Victor Verster Prison Negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa Liliesleaf Farm Mandela House and museum Nelson Mandela Children 's Fund The Elders 70th Birthday Tribute 90th Birthday Tribute Awards and honours Death and funeral attendees Presidency 1994 election Presidency Government of National Unity Reconstruction and Development Programme Truth and Reconciliation Commission Constitution of South Africa 1995 Rugby World Cup Intervention in Lesotho Mahlamba Ndlopfu Books and speeches `` I Am Prepared to Die '' ( 1964 speech ) Long Walk to Freedom ( 1995 ) Mandela : The Authorised Biography ( 1999 ) Dare Not Linger : The Presidential Years ( 2017 ) Legacy and namesakes Mandela Day Nelson Mandela Forum Nelson Mandela Institution 46664 concerts Mandela Rhodes Scholarship Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners ( the Mandela Rules ) Nelson Mandela Challenge Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate Nelson Mandela Invitational Nelson Mandela International Airport Nelson Mandela Square Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Mandela National Stadium Nelson Mandela Bridge Nelson Mandela Children 's Hospital Ponts Nelson - Mandela Nelson Mandela University Film depictions Mandela ( 1987 ) Death of Apartheid ( 1995 ) Mandela ( 1996 ) Mandela : Son of Africa, Father of a Nation ( 1996 ) Mandela and de Klerk ( 1997 ) Goodbye Bafana ( 2007 ) Endgame ( 2009 ) Invictus ( 2009 ) Winnie Mandela ( 2011 ) Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom ( 2013 ) Mandela : The Struggle Is My Life ( 2013 ) Mandela 's Gun ( 2016 ) Family Ngubengcuka ( great - grandfather ) Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa ( father ) Nosekeni Fanny ( mother ) Evelyn Mase ( wife ) Winnie Madikizela - Mandela ( wife ) Graça Machel ( wife ) Makgatho Mandela ( son ) Makaziwe Mandela ( daughter ) Zenani Mandela - Dlamini ( daughter ) Zindzi Mandela - Hlongwane ( daughter ) Ndileka Mandela ( granddaughter ) Mandla Mandela ( grandson ) Zoleka Mandela ( granddaughter ) Ndaba Mandela ( grandson ) Related African National Congress history International Tribute Concert Madiba shirt `` Free Nelson Mandela '' ( song ) `` Mandela Day '' ( song ) Bring Him Back Home ( Nelson Mandela ) ( song ) Atlanta sculpture Cape Town City Hall statue Johannesburg statue London statue Pretoria statue Washington, DC statue Ismail Ayob Book Category Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mandela:_Long_Walk_to_Freedom&oldid=862588009 '' Categories : 2013 films 2010s drama films 2010s biographical films British films British biographical films South African films South African biographical films English - language films Films based on biographies Films about Nelson Mandela Cultural depictions of Nelson Mandela Cultural depictions of Winnie Mandela Cultural depictions of F.W. de Klerk Political drama films Films set in South Africa Films set in the 1940s Films set in the 1960s Films set in the 1970s Films set in the 1980s Films set in the 1990s Pathé films Entertainment One films Xhosa - language films Films shot in South Africa Apartheid films Screenplays by William Nicholson Hidden categories : Use British English from October 2013 Use dmy dates from October 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Cymraeg Deutsch فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano עברית 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Türkçe 中文 9 more Edit links This page was last edited on 5 October 2018, at 10 : 27 ( UTC ). 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Question: who played mandela in long walk to freedom
Answer: Idris Elba