Clint Eastwood’s sports epic “The Human Factor”/ possibly still-Untitled began filming recently and, as this is the information age, here is the first look at a blonde Matt Damon in his role as the 1995 South African Rugby Team captain, Francois Pienaar.
The film will tell the story of the unlikely friendship between Pienaar and politician Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) and how, together, they united a whole nation by guiding the national rugby team through its underdog run in the Rugby World Cup of 1995; a year after the end of an apartheid era that spanned nearly fifty years.
Filming apparently hasn’t been smooth sailing though as Damon has reportedly faced difficulties adapting to the sport of rugby. The Sun would have you believe Damon has temporarily delayed filming after spraining his leg by wedging his foot into the ground in an attempt to kick a ball. Again, British press, take with a grain of salt.
It was also recently revealed that a son of the director, Scott Eastwood, has been given a role in the film. Also known as Scott Reeve, the celebrity offspring has previously been in his father’s “Gran Torino” and “Flags of our Fathers.”. He will play an unknown team-mate of Damon’s character.
‘The Human Factor’ is due out in December 2009 and was featured in The Playlist’s 17 Even More Anticipated Films Of 2009. – Simon Dang
