Idris Elba cast as Nelson Mandela in Long Walk To Freedom

From Stringer Bell to South African rebel and president Nelson Mandela.

Idris Elba (The Wire, Luther, Prometheus) revealed to Hip Hollywood he will soon star as the iconic figure in an upcoming biopic.

“My big project this year, I’m gonna go play Nelson Mandela in Long Walk To Freedom, an autobiographical work written by Nelson Mandela himself, which highlights his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison.”

There is no director attached at this time, although The King’s Speech‘s Tom Hooper was once working on it.

Discuss: Could this be his big break-out role?