Filming begins on Eastwood's SA rugby epic

Principal photography commenced on March 3, 2009 in South Africa on Warner Bros. Pictures' as-yet-untitled drama, being directed by four-time Oscar winner Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven). The film stars Academy Award winners Morgan Freeman (The Dark Knight, Million Dollar Baby) and Matt Damon (the Bourne franchise, Good Will Hunting).

The South African cast includes Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng, Matt Stern, Leleti Khumalo, and Marguerite Wheatly as Francois Pienaar's wife."

Freeman portrays Nelson Mandela in the inspiring true story of how the newly elected South African president joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team (Damon) to help unite their country. In the wake of apartheid, President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.

A Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Spyglass Entertainment, the film is being produced by Eastwood; Lori McCreary, under her and Freeman's Revelations Entertainment banner; Eastwood's long-time producing partner Robert Lorenz, for Malpaso Productions; and Mace Neufeld. The screenplay is by South African writer Anthony Peckham, based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation. Freeman, Tim Moore, and Spyglass Entertainment's Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum are serving as executive producers.

For the production, Eastwood has reunited with his veteran behind-the-scenes production team, who most recently collaborated with him on the films Gran Torino and Changeling.

Re-teaming with the director are director of photography Tom Stern, production designer James J. Murakami, editors Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach, and costume designer Deborah Hopper.

Boost for Johannesburg, Cape Town

The film will be shot entirely on location in and around the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, utilizing hundreds of local crewmembers, cast and extras. Location production services are being provided by Moonlighting Films with Genevieve Hofmeyr serving as South African supervising producer.

In a joint statement, the film's producers expressed their appreciation for the cooperation extended to them, saying, “We want to thank the people and the government of South Africa for their gracious hospitality and their cooperation. We are thrilled to be in their beautiful country and look forward to living and working here in the weeks ahead.”

Eastwood added: “We are honoured to have the full support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and South African Rugby as we set out to capture this unforgettable chapter of their shared legacy.”

Garth Strachan, MEC for Finance and Economic Development in the Western Cape, stressed the importance of building partnerships between Government, the Private Sector and Communities in order to roll back poverty and create jobs. “The film industry has enormous potential to do that,” he commented.

The Western Cape's premier, Lynn Brown, said, “It is our privilege to welcome Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon and the entire cast and crew to our country as they bring this story of reconciliation and hope to the world. We are especially pleased to have the distinguished actor Morgan Freeman portray one of the world's greatest living icons, Nelson Mandela.”

“The fact that we have these internationally eminent talents telling a true South African story is an indication of us being a global community,” noted Cape Film commissioner, Laurence Mitchell.