Nelson Mandela movie to open in South Africa this month

Zindzi Mandela, daughter of former president Nelson Mandela, second from left, poses for a photograph with British Actor Naomie Harris, left, as housing minister Yokyo Sexwale, right, watches during a news conference held on the eve of the South African premier of the film "Mandela - Long Walk To Freedom, in Johannesburg, Saturday Nov. 2, 2013. (AP / Denis Farrell)

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- The producer of a movie about Nelson Mandela says he screened some scenes and showed film images last year to the former South African president, describing him as amused by the elaborate makeup process for the British actor who played him.

Anant Singh, producer of "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," recalled Saturday that Mandela smiled and said "Is that me?" when he saw a picture of actor Idris Elba as an elderly Mandela.

Singh had visited Mandela at his home in Qunu, in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. Mandela, 95, has stayed in a hospital several times since December and remains critically ill at his Johannesburg home.

The film, based on Mandela's autobiography, will be released in South Africa in late November before opening in the U.S. and other markets