Winnie Mandela threatens Roodt

2010-01-26 11:37

Johannesburg - Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has threatened legal action against acclaimed South African director Darrell Roodt, who plans to make a film about her life, IOL has reported.

Madikizela-Mandela is "extremely concerned" to hear of the planned film about her life "in circumstances in which she has never been approached for consent or at all," a letter from her attorneys, Bowman Gilfillan revealed, according to IOL’s report.

"It is difficult to understand how a production bearing the name of an individual who has not been consulted at all could ever be appropriate or tell the full story of that individual life, as media reports suggest this production is intended to," the letter says.

"This is certainly the case here where our client has not responded to allegations and comment which have been made about her, precisely because she has sought to protect her sphere of personal privacy as best she can in extremely difficult and turbulent times."

IOL.co.za reported that the attorneys met with Roodt, who also directed Cry, The Beloved Country and Sarafina! and Andre Pieterse from Ironwood Films on Friday but failed to reach an agreement.

Gilfillan's office declined to comment on the report, citing lawyer-client confidentiality.

Titled Winnie, the film, which is set to start production in May, is based on the biography of Madi- kizela-Mandela by Anna-Marie du Preez Bezdrob, Winnie Mandela: A Life, and will star American singer turned actor Jennifer Hudson in the lead role.

The film had already stoked controversy when Hudson was tapped to play the role, sparking outrage among local actors who complained that South African talent had again been overlooked by Hollywood.

- News24

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