Cynthia Erivo, Thabo Rametsi and Guy Pearce are to star in Bill Condon’s true story-inspired South African Apartheid feature The Road Home for Studiocanal, with Palisades Park Pictures commencing 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 (played by Rametsi) is pulled between two worlds when the Anti-Apartheid Movement launches a boycott against his 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 bring South Africa’s voice to the world.
Producers are Laura Bickford for Laura Bickford Productions, Michael Bronner (who has also written the script) for Smashing Dandelions, Greg Yolen for 1000 Eyes, and Anant Singh.
Shooting is set to take place in South Africa in June. Studiocanal is financing the film with Bickford and Fiona Druckenmiller’s Flora Films, and Rob Bath.
The film features the music of Masekela, Makeba and Paul Simon. Veteran music producer Hilton Rosenthal will serve as co-producer.
Condon’s credits include the Twilight franchise, Dreamgirls and Kiss Of The Spider-Woman.
Tamara Birkemore, CEO Palisades Park Pictures, said: “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.”
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