NEW ORIGINAL SONG “ORDINARY LOVE” BY U2
The Weinstein Company (TWC) and producer Anant Singh announced today that a new trailer for their upcoming release MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM will premiere on Thursday, October 17th at 7:30pm EST. Depicting key moments from the biopic starring Idris Elba and Naomie Harris, this trailer will also feature a new song, “Ordinary Love” written especially for the film by U2.
The trailer will be broadcast on Access Hollywood, with an online premiere on Yahoo. Additionally, it will land in theaters nationwide this coming weekend in front of new release 12 YEARS A SLAVE.
Said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “Over the years U2 and I have had a superb relationship including partnering on the Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe winning song ‘The Hands That Built America’ for Martin Scorsese’s GANGS OF NEW YORK. When I asked them to consider writing a song for MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, it was the fastest ‘yes’ I have ever received. The band saw various cuts of the film over the summer and worked diligently to write a song that truly reflects Nelson Mandela. I think they did a brilliant job honoring the man and the leader they have known for over 20 years.”
Noted director Justin Chadwick: “Having U2 contribute their talents adds to the already enormous body of support we’ve had in making MANDELA. I’m incredibly excited for audiences to get this latest glimpse at the film.”
Commented producer Singh: “We are delighted to have U2 write an original song for MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM. This is really fitting as U2 have always been a staunch supporter of Madiba. As a board member of Madiba’s 46664 anti AIDS initiative together with U2, I was fortunate to be with them when we visited Robben Island together, accompanied by Madiba.”
MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, which the TWC is releasing theatrically on November 29th, is based on South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, which chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Idris Elba (PROMETHEUS) stars as Nelson Mandela, Naomie Harris (SKYFALL) stars as Winnie Mandela, with Justin Chadwick (THE FIRST GRADER, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, BLEAK HOUSE) directing. The film had its world premiere earlier this year at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.
ABOUT PRODUCER ANANT SINGH
Anant Singh is acknowledged as South Africa’s preeminent film producer. He has produced some of the most notable films made in South Africa, among which are SARAFINA!, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY, RED DUST and the Academy Award nominated YESTERDAY. Nelson Mandela personally awarded the film rights to his autobiography ‘Long Walk To Freedom’ to Singh.
ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes. TWC releases took home eight 2012 Academy Awards®, the most wins in the studio’s history. The tally included Best Picture for Michel Hazanavicius’s THE ARTIST and Best Documentary Feature for TJ Martin and Dan Lindsay’s UNDEFEATED. THE ARTIST brought TWC its second consecutive Best Picture statuette following the 2011 win for Tom Hooper’s THE KING’S SPEECH.
Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; 1408; I’M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; SUBMARINE; DIRTY GIRL; APOLLO 18; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT; SARAH’S KEY; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; MY WEEK WITH MARILYN; THE IRON LADY; W.E.; CORIOLANUS; UNDEFEATED; THE ARTIST; BULLY; THE INTOUCHABLES; LAWLESS; KILLING THEM SOFTLY; THE MASTER; SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK; DJANGO UNCHAINED; QUARTET; ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH; DARK SKIES; THE SAPPHIRES; SCARY MOVIE 5; and KON-TIKI. Currently in release are UNFINISHED SONG and FRUITVALE STATION, LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER, THE GRANDMASTER and SALINGER. Upcoming releases include 12-12-12, PHILOMENA, MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY.
TWC is active in television production, led by former Miramax Films President of Production Meryl Poster. TWC is the studio behind such hit television series as the Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award winning reality series PROJECT RUNWAY and its spin-off series PROJECT RUNWAY ALL STARS and PROJECT ACCESSORY; the VH1 reality series MOB WIVES and its spin-off series MOB WIVES CHICAGO and BIG ANG; and the critically acclaimed scripted HBO comedy/crime series THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY which also received a Peabody Award. The company is in production on the upcoming TLC series WELCOME TO MYRTLE MANOR, the A&E series RODEO QUEENS, and the Lifetime reality competition show SUPERMARKET SUPERSTAR hosted by Stacy Keibler. Among TWC’s other projects in development for television are the martial-arts epic MARCO POLO for Starz, an untitled private eye procedural for FX, and THE NANNY DIARIES developed by ABC with a pilot by Amy Sherman Palladino.
The Giving Back Foundation Newsletter – Fall 2013