Erivo, Rametsi, Pearce Star in 'The Road Home'
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- Cynthia Erivo will portray South African vocalist Miriam Makeba in "The Road Home," a musical drama about her collaboration with Hugh Masekela.
- Thabo Rametsi is cast as trumpeter Hugh Masekela, depicting his exile and role in the Graceland tour with Paul Simon.
- Guy Pearce plays Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, a mentor and anti‑apartheid advocate who helped launch the boycott against Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album.
- Bill Condon directs the film from a script by Michael Bronner, based on a story co‑written with Zakes Mda.
- Studiocanal is financing the production and will distribute the film across South Africa, the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia and New Zealand.
- Hilton Rosenthal serves as co‑producer and secured music rights for the soundtrack, including new recordings of Makeba and Masekela’s catalogues.
- South Africa will host the shoot, with filming slated to begin in June.
Why it matters: The film gives the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation a high‑profile vehicle to preserve African musical heritage while providing global exposure for stars Erivo, Rametsi and Pearce; its financing by Studiocanal and Cannes sales strategy promise broader distribution, potentially boosting South African cultural representation worldwide.
