Much ire has been raised among South Africans in the past when an American actor is chosen to play a South African in a film, the latest irksome choice being Jennifer Hudson to play Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

However, this decision might not only make us mad, as it’s also a bit of a weird decision…

Forest Whitaker, known for his portrayal of Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland”, has been selected to star as Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a new film directed by Roland Joffe, which is apparently based on a play called “The Archbishop and the Antichrist” – a play about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings.

The role might prove to be extremely complicated for Whitaker, as he will have to manipulate his voice to emulate the high pitch Tutu is known for. There are also other differences that South Africans might think a hard pill to swallow, knowing Tutu so personally through the years.

What do you think of the decision?