South African seasoned actress Lerato Mvelase has been at the acting game for 28 years and keeps winning as she is set to star in the International Shaka Zulu series production. The 40-year-old actress has been named part of this production which has not yet begun but will soon start in South Africa. This will be shown on an International Television network and is a big career move for the South African actress.
The actress is set to play Mkabayi, an elder sister to King Shaka Zulu’s father in the series. Showtime, an American Broadcasting channel, has ordered the series the life of Shaka to be shot and produced for the network. She is a post-graduate Diploma in Drama holder. The drama series will start production soon, which will happen in South Africa, but it will only debut on screens in 2023.
Meet the cast of the Shaka Zulu Warrior King series
The lead role of Shaka will be played by British actor Charles Babalola, famously known for his role in Black Mirror. The actor is a 32-year-old graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. South Africa’s famous Fear Factor Presenter Thapelo Mokoena also joins the cast of this prestigious production, but his role is yet to be announced. Thapelo is 40 years old graduate from AFDA who also holds an Accounting Degree.
Seasoned actor Warren Masemola, famously known for portraying Lentswe Mokethi, also landed a role in the drama series. The actor is a39 year old with a Diploma in Drama from the Market Theatre Laboratory. Last but not least famous theatre actress Thando Dlomo, also known for her appearance in the documentary OprahyDaughters, joins the cast. The actress holds a Degree in Communication and a minor in Theatre. She later got a Master’s Degree from USC.
According to the news, the series will be directed by American Director Antoine Fuqua, the director of The Equalizer. The script will be written by a Nigerian writer, showing the rise of the Zulu King to power and how he brought a lot of tribes together.
Fans’ reaction to the drama series
Many fans are baffled as to why a Nigerian writer and British actor take on the lead role in a series about South Africans. Tweeps are of the mind that to perfectly depict the story; a Zulu actor should have been cast in the lead role of Shaka. However, the nation can only hope that more South African actors will join the cast as production starts.