Jennifer Hudson’s Oscar victory for 2006′s Dreamgirls is one of the more inspirational narratives of the modern Academy Awards: a reality show runner-up in her acting debut outshines a cast full of glitzy stars (and overcomes her film’s so-so critical and commercial response) and wins pretty much every major supporting-actress award of the season. (Hey, as far as good stories go, it beats “Glam actress doesn’t wash face, gets Oscar.”) Now, it looks like Hudson has finally found a potential Oscar-bait follow-up. She’ s playing Winnie Madikizela-Mandela opposite Terrence Howard as Nelson Mandela in the upcoming film Winnie, currently slated to debut at film festivals in early 2011. Check out the first trailer below.
If you’re like me, you’re skeptical of any non-comedy that uses old-age makeup. But Howard looks like he’s on fire as the young activist, and it’ll be intriguing to see if Hudson can pull off such a tricky, decades-of-aging role.
PopWatchers, are you intrigued by Winnie?
I heard it was Terrance Howard as young Madela, but they replace him with Don Chedale as the older Mandela.
Okay, that’s funny.
Every time I see that actor, I just picture him playing Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Thought the same thing throughout Fallen.
Elias Koteas. And he’s amazing.
You know what they call this? A career killer.
Looks to me like they should call it Another Oscar Nomination For Terrence Howard. Neither of the leads have anything to lose from this and everything to gain. Career killer? You have to have one before you kill it and Law and Order Los Angeles certainly doesn’t count.
That trailer was terrible.
That wasn’t a real trailer. It was something to whet appetites. Trailers aren’t 4 minutes long.
can’t wait to see this movie, looks interesting…
The trailer seemed to focus more on Nelson Mandela than Winnie. It’s bad marketing.
It’s because he’s the real actor in the film. She, unfortunately, is not.
I didn’t know much about Winnie Mandela so I looked her up after watching this trailer. And though she has done a lot for South Africa, somethings she’s done are troubling and wonder if this movie will show any of that.
1) She cheated on her husband.
2) She was convicted of ordering the kidnapping and murder of a 14 yr old activist thought to be a snitch. It was going to be 6 year jail term, but was reduced to a fine and 2 year probation. 3 other young boys were kidnapped at the same time, but only received a bad beating and weren’t killed.
3) She has said the following about Nelson Mandela: She said her husband “has let blacks down” and “That he was wheeled out for money”
I wonder if some of this will make it into the film?
She only responded to the horrifying brutality of the situation imposed upon the Blacks of South Africa. You’d be amazed what you’d do growing up with a boot in your throat and rubber bullets breaking the bones of your children.
I think that this will not be JHuds best role (but then again, she won the Oscar for Dreamgirls because of her voice and not her acting), but I do not think that this will be a career killer. A lot of actors have been in so-so films or flops.
Henry she’s the one with the oscar . I’m starting to thik you are terrance howard lol. If anyone gets a nom from this movie it will be Jenifer…
the problem with selling the movie is that Mandela’s story has been told ten times over. Winnie’s story is less known, but she was always in the backdrop. It’s a vehicle for Jennifer for sure, but it looks more like a Hallmark movie than a major movie. It should do well overseas.
No it is a story well worth telling, and it is a major movie. I have a serious problem with the people from Chicago not supporting their artist. What is wrong with you people(wake up). Winnie story has never been told. Jennifer Hudson will be the first of her standards as an award winning actress to play the role. The movie is very deep and intensed. This is a very serious movie role.
I love Jen and all she has done this far. She is really incredible in all she does. wheather it be singing are acting(amazing). This movie is really deep, and I believe she has done it again(golden).
I am impressed with both actors and how they are betraying the Mandela’s in the movie. I feel both are worthy of an oscar nonimation in which Ms. Hudson continue to impress me as a performer, some people continue to knock her as a performer, I feel she is great and I wish her continued success. Stay real Ms. Hudson
As a South African I must say Terrece Howards Mandela accent is simply one of the worst I have ever heard. He sounds much more like a white afrikaans farmer.
As an American I must say you are a liar and a hater. Don’t hate on the movie because they did not choose an African to play the role.
sorry dude im american (african) its pretty bad. im glad he did it if they couldnt find nobody else. he wasn’t the best choice for this role, it doesn’t mean he’s not a great actor tho-
I totally agree. His accent is horrible and does not sound South African and I am American. I like Howard, but I think they should have found another actor to play this role. As for Hudson – I like her too, but again I don’t think they should’ve cast her for this movie either — neither the accent nor the acting are believable. I would NOT go see this at the movies. Hollywood has got to do better than this
terrance howard is not strong enough to play mandela, unless you are african white or black, please dont comment, this movie is not doing the story justice..sorry try again.