Idris Elba is a trouble maker in new Mandela poster

Bold new artwork for ‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom’ has arrived online, giving us a fresh look at Idris Elba as anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela – this time branded a "trouble maker".

[Who will play the definitive Mandela?]

Exclusive to The Hollywood Reporter, this is the first proper look we’ve had at ‘Luthor’ star Idris as the political icon since the more arty promo posters released last month - inspired by the iconic 1981 ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ campaign art.

Idris now joins a long and impressive line of actors who’ve played South Africa’s ‘father of the nation’ on screen – including Morgan Freeman, Terrence Howard, David Harewood, Clarke Peters, Dennis Hasbert, Danny Glover and Sidney Poitier – so he’s in good company.

[First poster of Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela]

Based on Mandela’s autobiography of the same name, ‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom’ will follow the now 94-year-old’s early life, through his ANC activism, 27 year imprisonment and eventual election to President in 1994.

Co-starring ‘Skyfall’s’ Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela, and with ‘Les Miserables’ scribe William Nicholson is on adapting duties, this is definite award magnet material. And rightly so.

Nelson Mandela himself is currently responding to hospital treatment for a lung infection, but remains in a serious condition. "We are grateful that he continues to get better," South African President Jacob Zuma told press yesterday. "Over the last two days, although he remains serious, his doctors have stated that his improvement has been sustained."

‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom’, directed by Justin Chadwick, is out in the UK 3 January 2014.