John Legend will play actor, singer, and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte in Bill Condon’s The Road Home, with production underway in South
John Legend will play actor, singer, and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte in Bill Condon’s The Road Home, with production underway in South Africa.
Legend joins Thabo Rametsi, Cynthia Erivo, Guy Pearce and Screen Star of Tomorrow Johnny Flynn on the cast.
The Road Home tells the true story of trumpeter Hugh Makesela, who was exiled from his native South Africa. He is pulled between two worlds when the anti-apartheid movement, led by his mentor archbishop Trevor Huddleston, launches a boycott against Hugh’s friend Paul Simon over his album Graceland, accusing Simon of violating the cultural boycott of the country.
Makesela splits from his mentor and joins forces with fellow exile Miriam ‘Mama Africa’ Makeba to create the Graceland band, to bring South Africa’s voice to the world.
The film is written by Michael Bronner with research and additional elements by Zakes Mda. It is produced by Laura Bickford for Flora Films, Bronner, Greg Yolen, and Anant Singh, in association with Blue Ice producers Tebogo Malia and Adam Friedlander.
Executive producers are Fiona Druckenmiller and Rametsi, with Anna Marsh, Ron Halpern and Shana Eddy-Grouf for Studiocanal, David Dison, Siphiwo Ralo, and The Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation.
Music producer Hilton Rosenthal is co-producer on the film, and will produce up-to-date recordings of Masekela and Makeba’s songs for the soundtrack.
Studiocanal is financing the film with Flora Films and Rob Bath, and will distribute in South Africa, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Palisades Park Pictures is handling international sales for all other territories.
”I was honored to know Mr. Belafonte as my friend, mentor and collaborator in the struggle for justice,” said Legend. ”He was an incredible human being who lived a monumental, revolutionary life. He was the epitome of an artist and activist who set a standard for me and so many others who stand on his shoulders. I count it a privilege to be entrusted with the role of Harry Belafonte in this special film.” Belafonte died in 2023, aged 96.
