John Legend is set to play Harry Belafonte in The Road Home, Bill Condon’s drama about South African jazz legends Hugh Masekela and Miriam “Mama Africa” Makeba and their apartheid-era Graceland tour with Paul Simon. This news was reported by several trade publications, including Variety. Principal photography is underway in South Africa.
Legend said in a statement, “I was honored to know Mr. Belafonte as my friend, mentor and collaborator in the struggle for justice. He was an incredible human being who lived a monumental, revolutionary life. I count it a privilege to be entrusted with the role of Harry Belafonte in this special film.”
The film follows renowned trumpeter Masekela (Thabo Rametsi), who is pulled between his mentor Archbishop Trevor Huddleston (Guy Pearce) — who launches a boycott against Paul Simon (Johnny Flynn) over his Graceland album for violating the United Nations’ cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa — and his own belief that music can serve the struggle. Cynthia Erivo plays Makeba, who joins forces with Masekela to create the Graceland band, per Variety.
Condon directs from a script by Michael Bronner, based on a story by Bronner and South African novelist Zakes Mda. The project originated with the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation. Veteran producer Hilton Rosenthal will produce new recordings from Masekela and Makeba’s catalogs for the soundtrack. Laura Bickford, Bronner, Greg Yolen and Anant Singh produce. Studiocanal is financing and distributing across nine territories. A U.S. deal is still to come.
Featured image photo credit: Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
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