Morgan Freeman is lined up to play Nelson Mandela in the film version of his autobiography, 'Long Walk to Freedom'.
Freeman said, he had made a pact with Mandela to meet up whenever they are within 1,000 miles of each other, in order to help the actor prepare for the role.
"I'm honoured and terrified that I won't live up to the job of really presenting this man," he said.
Director Shekhar Kapur made the announcement at the Capri-Hollywood film festival.
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison for anti-apartheid activities within the African National Congress (ANC), before being released in 1990 as white minority rule crumbled.
He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with FW de Klerk in 1993 and served as president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
