Winnie Mandela film defies lawsuit threat

The filmmakers behind a biopic about the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela say they will forge ahead with production soon despite a threat of court action by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

The movie, starring Jennifer Hudson, is slated to begin 10 weeks of filming in South Africa on May 31.

ProducerAndr Pieterse, speaking at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France, confirmed he got a letter from lawyers for Madikizela-Mandela saying she wanted toread the script in order to approve it, or else would begin legal action that would stop production.

"The film will be made based on a screenplay that was well researched and without any interference, without any influence from any of the main characters," Pieterse declared Saturday.

'I shouldn't say this, but I think Winnie's going to love the movie.' Director Darrell Roodt

American actor Terrence Howard will play the former leader of South Africa.

Madikizela-Mandelabecame a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement as she campaigned tirelessly for the release of her husband, who spent 27 years in prison. But soonafter his 1990 release, their marriage fell apart.

Now 73, Madikizela-Mandela was sentenced to six years in jail in 1991 for participating in a kidnapping, butappealed and wasforced only to pay a fine.In 2003, she was convicted of fraud and theft.

Director Darrell Roodt says his film will chronicle her life from her early teens through the present.

'Amazing love story'

He calls herrelationship with Mandela an "amazing love story about what one woman will do for her man."

"This is a woman who is just extraordinary beyond all measure and it's high time that a great film is made about a great South African and a great human being who's done so much for not only South Africa but the world," Roodtsaid at the news conference.

"I shouldn't say this, but I think Winnie's going to love the movie."

The film,a co-production with Montreal-based Equinoxe Films,is based on the book Winnie Mandela: A Life by Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob.