The controversy is brewing over Winnie Mandela opposing the movie on her life, which will star Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson.  As we reported on Tuesday, the former wife of President Nelson Mandela has threatened legal action.  She wants approval of the script and the creators of the biopic on her life are saying no.

At the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, CNN spoke with Hudson who said she understands Manedla’s concern but thinks once she sees the film she will be happy.  Check out the video below.

Race, ethnicity and nationality can be major issues in films. When Jennifer Lopez was selected to play Selena in the 1997 biopic, some Mexican-American activists protested that the actress should be Mexican; Lopez is Puerto Rican.  However, once the film was released, Lopez’s performance was praised.

Argentinians protested when Madonna landed the role of Eva Perón in the film version of Evita. Some felt that a woman of Spanish background should play Eva and others were mortified considering Madonna’s racy past. Madonna won a Golden Globe for her performance.

Many in the African-American community were frustrated that Angelina Jolie played Mariane Pearl, the wife of slain journalist Daniel Pearl, in A Mighty Heart. Jolie was “darkened up” to play Pearl who is of Dutch-Jewish and Afro-Chinese-Cuban descent. Nonetheless, Jolie was specifically chosen by Pearl and the performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

Now, according to the New York Post, lawyers for Winnie Mandela, the former wife of President Nelson Mandela, slammed the producers of her biopic for not selecting an actress from South Africa. Furthermore, Winnie Mandela wants approval of the script.  If her demand is not granted, she will allegedly file a lawsuit to stop filming. The film is set to start production at the end of May in South Africa.

The producer, André Pieterse, said he has no plans to give Winnie Mandela script approval and stressed the story was thoroughly researched.

I’m sure it’s tough for a director to grant script approval — but can you imagine a film about your life, you’re still alive and well, and you’re told, “Butt out!”

On the issue of a South African actress playing Winnie Mandela, I think it’s a valid point, but the film, which has a $15 million budget, is concerned about the cash. They want a bankable actress — perceived cultural morality is thrown out of the Hollywood window.

I am sure Jennifer Hudson will do an amazing job.  Do you think a South African actress should be selected for the role of Winnie Mandela?

On another note, Terrence Howard will be playing Nelson Mandela …

SOURCE

While Jennifer Hudson will not reprise her role in the sequel to Sex and the City, she does make an appearance on the soundtrack, which is in stores May 25th (the film opens Thursday, May 27th).

J-Hud has a duet with Leona Lewis in a original song called “Love Is Your Color.”  Alicia Keys has two songs, the already popular “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down” and a remake of Blondie’s “Rapture.”  Also, in a track that I have to hear to believe, the iconic Liza Minnelli covered Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).”  Minelli sure knows how to put a ring on it — she has been married and divorced four times!

The soundtrack also included songs from Erykah Badu, a T-Pain produced Cee-Lo track and the four gals of Sex and the City doing a rendition of a “I Am Woman.”

The full track listing is below:

1. Alicia Keys – “Rapture”
2. Dido – “Everything to Lose”
3. Cee-Lo – “Language of Love”
4. Erykah Badu – “Window Seat”
5. Natacha Atlas – “Kidda”
6. Michael McGregor – “Euphrates Dream”
7. Liza Minnelli – “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”
8. Ricki-Lee – “Can’t Touch It”
9. Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down”
10. Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis – “Love Is Your Color”
11. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon – “I Am Woman”
12. Sex and the City Men’s Choir – “If Ever I Would Leave You”
13. Sex and the City Men’s Choir – “Sunrise, Sunset”
14. Sex and the City Men’s Choir – “Till There Was You”
15. Shayna Steele, Jordan Ballard, Kamilah Marshall – “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”
16. Liza Minnelli with Billy Stritch – “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”
17. Aaron Zigman – “Divas and Dunes”

In one of the most diverse and history making years for people of color in film – Vanity Fair somehow missed the rainbow colored memo.  All over the web from urban to pop sites, folks are giving Vanity Fair the side-eye for their March issue that declares “New Hollywood.”  Sadly, new Hollywood to Vanity Fair seems a lil’ Jim Crow-ish.  The cover includes up and coming starlets like Abbie Cornish, Mia Wasikowska, Amanda Seyfried, Rebecca Hall and Evan Rachel Wood. What’s missing?  Well, despite the black letters on the cover — color is missing!

It wouldn’t have been a stretch to pull some diverse names into the mix like 2009 Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, recent Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose from The Princess and the Frog, or one of the hottest actress in the world right now (regardless of race), star of Avatar and Star Trek, Zoe Saldana.  Leaving all of these successful names out would be like doing a story on the “new face of politics” and not including President Barack Obama!

African-American films are making more money than ever and Black stars have proven to be bankable — especially more bankable than any of the women on the cover of this Vanity Fair issue (with the exception of the girl from Twilight – Kristen Stewart).  A writer from Vanity Fair described the girls with “Ivory-soap-girl features” — wow!  That sounds like something from a 19th century slave narrative!

Did Vanity Fair miss the mark or just following the lily White tradition of their magazine?

The gals of Sex and the City are filming the sequel and there is still no word if Jennifer Hudson will reprise her role as Louise. Hudson has said she would love to return to the set, but she has not been scene in any of the on-location shots they have popped up all over the Internet. In addition, her name is not on the movie’s IMDB page nor is the movie on her IMDB page.

I would be disappointed if Hudson didn’t return. Her character was a needed element to the movie — it also helped to see a little bit of color in the cast.

There are many spoilers running around about the film. Including that Carrie and Big go broke, Samantha suspects her cancer is returning, Miranda leaves her job as an attorney and Charlotte’s marriage is on the rocks.

Would you be disappointed if Jennifer Hudson was not in Sex and the City 2?

On the June 2009  issue of Essence, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson makes her second appearance on the cover.  The award-winning diva opens up for the first time about her family tragedy in an article titled “This Far By Faith.”  According to Essence:

“When I’m onstage, everything kind of goes away…it’s like therapy…”

“David is very family-oriented…I love that. And he is such a gentlemen, like, I sit in the car waiting because I can’t touch the door. I am not allowed! And he is so serious and so focused, but yet, just like me, so playful. We are very similar and I just love the balance.”—Jennifer Hudson, ESSENCE (June 2009)

Jennifer Hudson was at the top of her game when the unimaginable happened last October. It was a tragedy of such epic proportions it seemed inconceivable that the Jennifer we knew—the young woman who came to embody a Hollywood fairy tale—could ever return. Here, she talks to ESSENCE’s Jeannine Amber about being back in the spotlight, the love of her life and what gives her peace.

Congrats to J-Hud for feeling comfortable enough to tell her story.  I’m sure speaking her truth will inspire others.  Also, J-Hud’s camp is still denying all pregnancy rumors.

I’m always cautious to report pregnancy rumors, but allegedly “two sources close to the singer/actress” confirmed to Essence that the Oscar and Golden Globe winning diva is pregnant. Jennifer Hudson is engaged to Harvard grad and cast member of the reality show I Love New York 2, David Otunga.

The end of 2008 was a tumultuous year for America’s sweetheart, she suffered the loss of family members through violence.  However, 2009 started with her amazing performance at the Superbowl, her first Grammy and a successful tour with Robin Thicke.  If the pregnancy rumors are true, Jennifer Hudson will also be a mother.  This former American Idol castaway has truly made the impossible dream come true.  If J-Hud is pregnant — congrats!  Unfortunately, this means we might not see her in Sex and The City.

Check out her riveting performance of “The Impossible Dream,” a tribute to Muhammed Ali at this year’s NAACP Awards.

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Nowadays, it’s rare that Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has to request for anything.  From music to film – the world is her’s.  With details of the Sex and the City sequel plot leaking, such as Samantha will go broke and Carrie’s marriage to Big is in trouble, there is no word on whether  Jennifer’s character of Louise as Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant will return.  But, J-Hud told Access Hollywood she would love to reprise her role:

“I hope so! Come on Michael and Sarah,” Jennifer laughed.  “I would love [to play Louise again],” she said. “I told Michael Patrick King, I said that Louise has moved back to New York from St. Louis, so… I’ll be ready if that opportunity comes.”

Sarah Jessica Parker said she “hopes” J-Hud’s character can return.

Sex and the City was a television phenomenon and when the movie was released in May, the HBO gals broke box office records for movies with all female leads.  The movie was Jennifer’s first flick post her 2007 Oscar win and she beat out Kelly Rowland for the role.  I hope J-Hud returns to the cast — she is the only color you get in the entire movie!

While “The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards” is this Sunday, the NAACP announced their 40th Annual Image Award nominations yesterday.  Nominees include Will Smith, Don Cheadle, and Derek Luke.  Also, the five main cast members from “The Secret Life of Bees” all received nominations.  According to NAACP.org:

“The ABC network leads with a total of 24 nominations, followed by CBS with 14, and The CW and NBC both with 10. HBO has 9, with FOX coming in with 7. Television shows ‘Tyler Perry’s House of Payne’ received 6 nominations, followed by ‘Ugly Betty’ with 5 and ‘Everybody Hates Chris’, ‘The Game’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ each with 4.

Columbia Records leads the Recording category with 8 nominations, including 5 for Beyoncé. J Records and Arista both followed with 6 nominations apiece, and Island Def Jam has 4.

In the Motion Picture category, Fox Searchlight received 11 nominations. Sony Music Films/Parkwood Pictures follows with 7 nominations, and Columbia Pictures, Lionsgate and Sony Pictures Classics each have 3.”

The 40th NAACP Image Awards will be hosted by Tyler Perry and Oscar-winner Halle Berry on Thursday, February 12th.  Click here for the complete list of nomiees.