Johnny Flynn (Beast, Ripley) is joining Bill Condon’s The Road Home opposite Cynthia Erivo, Guy Pearce and South African multihyphenate Thabo Rametsi (Silverton Siege).

Having opened for Paul Simon (Graceland) in 2018 with his band ‘Johnny Flynn and The Sussex Wit’, Flynn comes full circle and joins the cast as Paul himself.

In the Michael Bronner-scripted feature, trumpeter Hugh Masekela (Rametsi) is exiled from native South Africa and pulled between two worlds when the Anti-Apartheid Movement, led by his mentor fierce anti-apartheid advocate Archbishop Trevor Huddleston (Pearce), launches a boycott against Hugh’s friend Paul Simon (Flynn), over his township music-inspired album “Graceland”, accusing Simon of violating the United Nations’ Cultural Boycott.

Splitting from his mentor, Masekela, who sees music as a powerful weapon in the struggle, joins forces with fellow exile and lifelong collaborator, powerhouse vocalist Miriam ‘Mama Africa’ Makeba (Erivo), to create the Graceland band – a super group designed to bring South Africa’s voice to the world.

Flynn says, “For me, there are very few stories that could come closer to home than this. I was born in Johannesburg and moved to London in 1985 – just before the album Graceland was released. The music of South Africa – and especially that of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba IS the sound of my childhood. And Graceland was the most played cassette in our car growing up. My parents were supporters of the anti-apartheid movement and various family members were persecuted for being so also. It’s such an honour to be invited to tell this story with artists that I admire so much. It’s the story of hope and the power of music.”

Pic’s story is by Bronner and Zakes Mda. Bronner is also producing. His relationship with South Africa began in 2000 while working on a Peabody Award-winning documentary for CBS’ 60 Minutes. He was originally approached to write the screenplay by the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation.

Pic is produced by Oscar nominated producer Laura Bickford (Traffic, Che Part 1 and Part 2, Arbitrage) for Laura Bickford Productions, Bronner for Smashing Dandelions, Greg Yolen (Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Good Liar) for 1000 Eyes, and Anant Singh (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Sarafina!), in association with executive producers Fiona Druckenmiller and Rob Bath.

Serving as EPs are Studiocanal executives, Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL and Chief Content Officer of Canal+, EVP of Global Production Ron Halpern and US Chief Creative Officer, Shana Eddy-Grouf, with Sudie Smyth leading Physical Production. Sam Shipp serves as a Creative Executive on the film.

Studiocanal is financing the film with Flora Films and Rob Bath. Studiocanal is releasing the movie in South Africa, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia and New Zealand. U.S.-based Palisades Park Pictures, backed by Ashland Hill, and helmed by CEO Tamara Birkemoe, are currently handling international sales for the film at the Cannes Film Festival.

Flynn is repped by United Agents, CAA and Public Eye.