Idris Elba says that the story is the most important aspect of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom and not the fact that he doesn’t look like Nelson Mandela.
Elba is set to return to the big screen in the new year in the brand new biopic about Mandela; it follows him from his childhood through his time in prison.
Elba does not look like Mandela and the actor insists that that is not the most important part to this film as the story is what comes first.
Speaking to Zoo Magazine the actor said: "I'm not Morgan Freeman, I'm not Terrence Howard, and I don't look like Nelson Mandela.
“I don't have that sort of complexion and we are not doing a lookalike story. This is a real story and this guy, Idris Elba, just happens to be playing him."
Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom sees Elba team up with director Justin Chadwick for the first time, while Naomie Harris is also on the cast list as Winnie Mandela.
Elba can currently be seen on the big screen in Thor: The Dark World as he reprises the role of Heimdall. He has also completed work on Second Coming and No Good Deed.
The actor is currently working on The Gunman; the film also stars Javier Bardem, Sean Penn and Ray Winstone.
Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom is released 3rd January 2014.
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