John Legend to Play Harry Belafonte in Bill Condon’s Apartheid-Era Drama ‘The Road Home’

EGOT-winner John Legend is set to star in “The Road Home,” about South African jazz legends Hugh Masekela and Miriam “Mama Africa” Makeba, and their Apartheid-era Graceland tour with Paul Simon. Legend will portray American singer, actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte.

Principal photography on “The Road Home” — directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon and backed by Canal+, Studiocanal, Flora Films, as well as South African co-producer Blue Ice — is underway in South Africa.

“The Road Home” follows as renowned trumpeter Masekela (award-winning South African star Thabo Rametsi) is pulled between two worlds. In the late 1980s, the anti-Apartheid Movement, led by his mentor, fierce anti-Apartheid advocate Archbishop Trevor Huddleston (Oscar nominee Guy Pearce), launches a boycott against Hugh’s friend Paul Simon (South African-born actor-musician Johnny Flynn), over his township music-inspired album “Graceland,” accusing Simon of violating the United Nations’ Cultural Boycott. Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo portrays powerhouse vocalist Makeba as she joins forces with Masekela — who sees music as a mighty weapon in the struggle — to create the Graceland band, a supergroup designed to bring South Africa’s voice to the world.

“I was honored to know Mr. Belafonte as my friend, mentor and collaborator in the struggle for justice,” Legend said. “He was an incredible human being who lived a monumental, revolutionary life. He was the epitome of an artist and activist who set a standard for me and so many others who stand on his shoulders. I count it a privilege to be entrusted with the role of Harry Belafonte in this special film.”

Legend is a multihyphenate artist and producer (he co-founded Get Lifted Film Co. in 2013) with a trophy case to match; his awards haul includes 13 Grammy awards (spanning his 11 albums), an Academy Award (for the “Selma” song “Glory,” with Common), a Golden Globe, a Tony award (as co-producer for “Jitney”) and four Emmys. As an actor, his resume includes roles in “La La Land,” “Underground,” “American Dreams” and a slew of cameo appearances. Recently, Legend served as a producer on “Cats: The Jellicle Ball,” which won three Tony Awards. Then, after wrapping up his return to NBC’s “The Voice” as a coach for Season 29 earlier this year, Legend began production on “Imitation of Life”; the project marks his first time composing a theatrical musical, which is set to premiere at The Shed in the fall. He is represented by Roc Nation, UTA and ID.

“The Road Home,” described as “a story of defiance, sacrifice and the resilience of the human spirit,” was announced in April ahead of the Cannes Film Festival. Studiocanal is financing the film with Flora Films and Rob Bath. Studiocanal will distribute the movie in South Africa, U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia and New Zealand. Palisades Park Pictures is handling international sales.

Condon directs from an original script by Michael Bronner (“The Mauritanian,” “United 93”), who was approached by the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation to write the project. The film’s story is by Bronner and South African writer Zakes Mda. Veteran music producer Hilton Rosenthal will serve as co-producer and will be producing new recordings from Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba’s catalog for the film’s soundtrack.

“Road Home” is produced by Laura Bickford, Bronner, Greg Yolen and Anant Singh, in association with Blue Ice’s producers Tebogo Malia and Adam Freidlander and with executive producers Fiona Druckenmiller and Rametsi. The Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation and David Dison also executive produce alongside South African broadcast journalist Siphiwo Ralo.

Executive producers on behalf of Studiocanal are Anna Marsh, CEO of Studiocanal and chief content officer of Canal+, Ron Halpern, EVP of global production, and Shana Eddy-Grouf, U.S. chief creative officer, with Sudie Smyth leading physical production. Sam Shipp serves as a creative executive on the film.