'Winnie Mandela,' starring Jennifer Hudson, to get fall release

LOS ANGELES, May 16 (UPI) -- Image Entertainment says it has acquired all U.S. rights to "Winnie Mandela," starring Jennifer Hudson, at France's Cannes International Film Festival.

Budgeted at $15 million and co-starring Terrence Howard as former South African President Nelson Mandela, the film is an adaptation of Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob's biography "Winnie Mandela: A Life." The bio-picture was written and directed by Darrell J. Roodt. It is to be released in theaters this fall.

"Both Jennifer Hudson and Terrence Howard deliver exceptional, solid performances," Bill Bromiley, chief acquisitions officer for Image Entertainment, said in a statement Thursday. "We are honored to distribute the film and give audiences the opportunity to see Winnie Mandela's powerful story."

"'Winnie Mandela' has been a labor of love," said Roodt. "We wanted to uphold the prestige of the Mandela name and tell her story as accurately and respectfully as possible. We took great pride and responsibility in creating this movie, and we are proud to release the never-before-seen dramatic love story this fall. The brilliant acting by Jennifer and Terrence, supported by the excellent cinematography and outstanding title song by six-time Academy Award nominee Diane Warren [sung by Jennifer Hudson,] make this film incomparable."