The new trailer released on Thursday offers a first glimpse of British actor, Idris Elba, 40, as the anti-apartheid hero.
Based on Mandela’s own 1994 memoir, the biopic follows the African National Congress activist's life from childhood to his inauguration as president of South Africa and his 27-year incarceration on Robben Island.
The film also details Nelson’s romance with his second wife Winnie Mandela - played by fellow Brit Naomie Harris, 36.
Idris, who found fame on The Wire, recently admitted that the he was very honoured to be given the opportunity to play the former South African president.
'It's such a massive opportunity to be part of a true legend's life'
‘It meant so much to me, it's such a massive opportunity to be part of a true legend's life, and more importantly, the film re-educates people on this legend,’ he told a UK newspaper.
Adding: ‘I never met Mr Mandela because he was very ill, so our interpretation of him was without his personal influence. But the script is such a good script, and obviously it comes from his book, and the book speaks for itself.’
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The Luther star also confessed that he felt immense pressure when he was cast in the high profile role.
‘This is the first real biopic I've done, and there's no real difference in the process, but it's Mr Mandela. So that's huge, everyone knows who he is and what he sounds like, and I look nothing like him,’ Idris admitted.
> > ‘If I get judged, which I will, about my performance..I think people miss the point.'
‘If I get judged, which I will, about my performance or how I sound or how I look, I think people miss the point. The point is that this is called Long Walk to Freedom, this is the book about his life and it's his own words,’ he continued.
Nelson Mandela celebrated his 95th birthday in hospital on Thursday after he was admitted with a lung infection last month.
According to recent reports his health is said to be improving.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom opens in cinemas on January 3.