Antoine Fuqua on Telling Nelson Mandela’s Story in ‘Troublemaker’

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For nearly three decades, director Antoine Fuqua has consistently delivered thrilling movies. From action classics like The Replacement Killers and Training Day to the popular Equalizer trilogy, he’s known for strong ideas, powerful acting, and non-stop action. His latest project, the documentary Troublemaker, continues this trend – and unexpectedly became a personal journey for Fuqua himself.

Fuqua shared with Ebaster a key lesson he’s learned: lasting change is never simple or comfortable. This led to some challenging self-reflection, prompting him to ask himself – and others – if they’re truly prepared to put in the necessary effort for real progress, and whether he, as a filmmaker and person, is doing enough to support others.

Troublemaker shares Nelson Mandela’s life story in his own words. Director Antoine Fuqua blended extensive audio interviews with Mandela, recorded in the 1980s, with animated recreations of key moments, brought to life by African artist Thabang Lehobye. The film offers a detailed, visually striking, and deeply personal look at Mandela’s evolution – from a young lawyer with dreams to the revolutionary leader and cultural icon he became.

Thabang Lehobye / Troublemaker

Lebohye’s animation brings to life decades of Nelson Mandela’s life, a period when the South African government prohibited any recordings of him. It offers a look into the struggles he faced and the strategies he employed. In an interview with Ebaster, director Antoine Fuqua explains how he condensed Mandela’s extensive life into a single, compelling film. He also discusses why animation was a better choice than live-action recreations, and how telling such a significant story has affected his career, including his plans for a future film about Michael Jackson.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

This documentary seems different from your usual work. What drew you to the project – the story itself, or the chance to tell it in such a unique and unexpected manner?

I was deeply moved by the chance to tell Nelson Mandela’s story – he’s always been a hero to me, alongside figures like Muhammad Ali. What’s truly fascinating about Mandela is his journey: he was a fighter, a boxer, and that foundation shaped him into the incredible leader he became. We often assume great leaders are simply born that way, but Mandela’s life shows he faced significant challenges and evolved over time. I felt it was crucial to share this story with the world, reminding us of the past so we can learn from it and avoid repeating mistakes.

Were there parts of Mandela’s life that previous movies didn’t cover enough?

We often think of Mandela as an iconic figure, but I rarely saw anyone portray his human side until I learned more about his life. Especially valuable were the 70 hours of recordings where he spoke directly about his experiences. Hearing him tell his own story truly humanized him for me. It was powerful to hear him discuss his fears, the loss of his mother and son, and his initial arrival at Robben Island – those personal details are what really mattered.

Conus Video / Troublemaker

The animation is truly remarkable. But why was animation the best way for Thabang Lehobye to tell this story? And how did they combine the animation with real-life footage of the places where everything happened?

When I started working on the film, I was surprised to learn there was no existing video footage of Mandela from his 27 years in prison. This presented a challenge – how could I visually tell that part of his story, where he was essentially cut off from the world? I considered animation and began creating storyboards based on Mandela’s own accounts. I wanted to collaborate with a South African artist who could capture the feeling of that time and place. I discovered Thabang’s paintings, which felt cinematic and full of life. After meeting with him and realizing his deep understanding of the era and South African culture, I asked him to create some sketches. The results were stunning, and his artistic process was remarkable. Once I saw his work, I knew this was the right approach.

Without footage from the period, were there particular resources that you provided him?

I mostly just discussed my vision with him. I described the feeling I wanted to create, and sometimes asked for a look reminiscent of older films – that grainy, textured quality. We also talked a lot about color, and I encouraged him to incorporate more of it to add life and depth to his work. It was a collaborative process; we figured it out together as we went.

Considering the limited amount of original Nelson Mandela footage available, how committed were you to using only that footage and avoiding recreations?

I really wanted to be true to Mandela’s stories, so I avoided changing anything. However, I did try something with AI specifically for the Robben Island scenes. I used AI to recreate the stories he tells – like the earthquake – just to see how it would feel as a viewer to suddenly see those events. I only did this for Robben Island because there wasn’t any existing footage, and I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else. I’m just experimenting with what AI can do, and honestly, it’s incredibly impactful.

Were there any previous movies about this place or time that inspired your vision, even though you were aiming for a unique and artistic style?

I didn’t base the film on any existing sources. Mandela was my only inspiration – I let his own story guide everything. Making a documentary is like being an archaeologist; you start with a general idea of the beginning, middle, and end, but the real story unfolds as you dig deeper and uncover new information along the way.

Can you share a particularly revealing story or moment you uncovered while researching his life – something that really shed light on who he was?

I remember being in South Africa, looking at locations, and walking into a restaurant. There was this huge black and white photo on the wall – I thought it was Muhammad Ali, one of my heroes. But it turned out to be Nelson Mandela. I jokingly asked if Mandela had been a boxer! It struck me that despite being a deeply spiritual person, he was also a fighter. That’s when I realized he was willing to use violence as a last resort. I also learned that his birth name, his traditional African name – not Mandela, which was a name he was given later – actually meant “troublemaker.”

Maz Makhani / Troublemaker

During a trip to South Africa with my team, we visited a monument built by Afrikaners. The monument depicted their history, predictably from their point of view. Mac Maharaj and I started questioning the guide about some of the harsh imagery on the walls, and we were asked to leave and told not to return. I was frustrated, but Mac had a completely different reaction. He explained that I should want to understand their perspective, arguing that true unity and humanity come from learning how to treat each other with understanding. It really reminded me of Mandela’s philosophy. That experience gave me a deep insight into what Mandela was about – his commitment to unity, communication, and peace, and his desire to find solutions beyond violence and anger. That’s ultimately why he became a leader. I learned so much during my time there, including several nights spent on Robben Island, a truly horrific place with a history of isolating lepers – you can still see the leper graveyard. Just walking around that island tells you a lot about the man Mandela was.

Did creating this film, in a different style than your previous, more mainstream movies, lead to any personal discoveries or moments of realization?

Making the film about Mandela taught me that real change is never simple or comfortable – it takes genuine effort. It made me ask myself if I’m doing enough to help others. I met a remarkable man who’d been severely injured in a car bombing while fighting for equality – he’d lost an arm and an eye. Despite everything, he was incredibly positive and full of life, with no trace of bitterness. I asked him why he’d risked so much, and he responded that a meaningful life requires giving back and fighting for justice. His bravery, and the risks they all took, really struck me. As an American, I realized I have advantages many don’t, and seeing their struggles made me want to do more to contribute to a more just world.

I’m not sure about the order you filmed everything, especially with the Michael movie coming out later this year – that’s a story about someone with a huge impact on culture. Did working on this film change how you thought about or approached telling that other story?

I love sharing the stories of influential people like Mandela or Michael, and the lasting effect they had on the world. It definitely influences how I work, even subconsciously, because at its heart, it’s about finding the humanity in them. When you explore the lives of these icons – like Muhammad Ali, who I deeply admire – you discover they weren’t perfect. They had flaws, just like everyone else. And that realization can be really inspiring, offering hope that you too can grow and improve.

Has working on ‘Troublemaker’ changed how you think about the kind of impact your films can have? Are you now interested in making movies that focus more on social issues, perhaps moving away from big-budget blockbusters?

I definitely am. I’m searching for stories that are impactful, inspiring, and offer new perspectives. Of course, entertainment is key, but I believe we can achieve even more, and I’m actively working on projects to make that happen.

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2026-01-27 20:23