Cynthia Erivo, Thabo Rametsi and Guy Pearce are to star in Bill Condon’s true story-inspired South African Apartheid characteristic The Road Home for Studiocanal, with Palisades Park Pictures commencing gross sales at Cannes.
Studiocanal will distribute in South Africa, UK-Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia and New Zealand.
Exiled from his native South Africa, trumpeter Hugh Masekela (performed by Rametsi) is pulled between two worlds when the Anti-Apartheid Movement launches a boycott towards his good friend, Paul Simon, over his township music-inspired album Graceland. He joins forces with Miriam ‘Mama Africa’ Makeba (Erivo) to create the Graceland band, a supergroup designed to carry South Africa’s voice to the world.
Producers are Laura Bickford for Laura Bickford Productions, Michael Bronner (who has additionally written the script) for Smashing Dandelions, Greg Yolen for 1000 Eyes, and Anant Singh.
Shooting is about to happen in South Africa in June. Studiocanal is financing the movie with Bickford and Fiona Druckenmiller’s Flora Films, and Rob Bath.
The movie options the music of Masekela, Makeba and Paul Simon. Veteran music producer Hilton Rosenthal will function co-producer.
Condon’s credit embody the Twilight franchise, Dreamgirls and Kiss Of The Spider-Woman.
Tamara Birkemore, CEO Palisades Park Pictures, stated: “The Road Home brings to life an extraordinary chapter in music history – a powerful story about the intersection of art and activism. With an exceptional team of filmmakers and talent involved, this is exactly the kind of elevated, compelling project that buyers respond to. We’re proud to partner with Studiocanal and Flora Films to bring this film to the global marketplace at Cannes and to help ensure this important story reaches audiences around the world.”
