Idris Elba has described getting to play Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom as a 'massive opportunity'.
The new biopic sees Elba team up with director Justin Chadwick to tell the life story of the former South African president.
And the actor reveals that he never got the chance to meet Mandela as he was preparing for this role.
Speaking to Reuters the actor said: "It's such a massive opportunity to be part of a true legend's life, and more importantly, the film re-educates people on this legend,
"I never met Mr Mandela because he was very ill, so our interpretation of him was without his personal influence.
"But the script is such a good script, and obviously it comes from his book, and the book speaks for itself."
Naomie Harris takes on the role of Winnie Mandela in the film while Robert Hobbs and Theo Landey are also on board.
Elba returned to the big screen over the weekend as he starred in Guillermo Del Toro's latest film Pacific Rim.
He will also be reprising the role of Heimdall in the autumn for Thor: The Dark World.
Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom is released 3rd January 2014.
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