Picture: Gallo Images/Deaan Vivier
Veteran South African comedian and actor Leon Schuster is returning to the big screen, with the entertainer confirming that he is working on a new movie in collaboration with Netflix.
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The 75-year-old made the revelation while appearing on KwaZulu-Natal digital radio station PlayZN this week, where he explained that he was in Durban working on the screenplay for the upcoming production.
According to a report by The South African, Schuster said he had pitched the idea to Netflix and that the streaming platform had agreed to a contract.
“I’m writing a movie now. We’ve got a contract from Netflix. It’s a very difficult movie, but I pitched the idea, and they liked it,” he said.
Leon Schuster plans to act despite health struggles
The new project comes as Schuster continues to deal with the physical effects of a serious back injury sustained while filming Mr Bones 3.
The film was released in 2024, a year after Schuster injured himself during production. Since then, he has undergone extensive surgery and rehabilitation, with his back problems continuing to affect his mobility.
Speaking about his role in the upcoming film, Schuster revealed that he expects to perform some scenes from a wheelchair.
“I’m going to play it 50% in the wheelchair, because I can’t walk far with my back,” he said.
The comment gives an indication of how his current health could shape his involvement in the production, although Schuster has not revealed further details about the film.
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What we know about the new movie
For now, the project remains largely under wraps.
Schuster has confirmed that he is writing the screenplay and that there is a contract with Netflix, but he has not disclosed the movie’s storyline or confirmed a release date.
The project will mark his return to film following Mr Bones 3, the latest instalment in one of the best-known movie franchises associated with his career.
A career spanning decades
Schuster has been a familiar face in South African entertainment for almost four decades, becoming particularly known for his comedy, candid-camera pranks and the different characters he has portrayed on screen.
His film credits include Mr Bones, Mr Bones 2, Mama Jack, Oh Shucks… I’m Gatvol and Schuks Tshabalala, among others. The Gauteng Film Commission lists several of these productions among his major box-office successes.
His career has also faced controversy. His movies were subject to a five-year DStv ban, which was lifted a year ago. The ban followed criticism over accusations that some of his work appropriated other races and involved the controversial use of blackface.
Schuster has previously rejected the suggestion that he intended to cause harm, saying that he aimed to bring people together through humour.
Originally published by Cape{town}etc.
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