Several South African media outlets (like Johannesburg-based City Press and Cape Town-based Channel 24) are reporting that Morris Chestnut is currently in the country, prepping to star in and produce a feature film titled Asylum Down, in which Chestnut will play “a reluctant heir to the gold and platinum reserves owned by a modern-day African royal family, who takes over the land and pushes it into the ruthless world markets, which could be to the family’s detriment,” they say.

A quote from Chestnut: 

“When I heard about the concept, I thought it was a great way to stretch myself as an actor… It’s also the progress and the beautiful architecture South Africa has which I wanted to show.”

I checked Chestnut’s Twitter and Facebook pages to see if there’s any mention of this, and all I found was a photo he shared 2 days ago, of himself, with the caption: 

“SOAKING IN AFRICA – Sun City”

Sun City being a resort a couple of hours or so, outside of Johannesburg.

I also found a June 14 photo of him with Peabody awarding-winning South African producer Uzanenkosi Mahlangu. 

And about the, uh, shall we call it, “accent problem,” Chestnut had this to say:

“There is nothing you can do that won’t be criticised. However, my only thought as an actor is to have it completely down and get the accent right.”

He plans to spend a lot of time in the country, working on his accent, as well as getting familiar with the area.

Producers of the film are shooting for a film with international, so don’t be surprised if there are other non-South African actors cast in the film. 

Production on Asylum Down is scheduled to begin in 2014, with 75% of the film expected to be filmed in South Africa, and the funding to come from there as well.

I’m  working to get more information on this, before I add any *color commentary*, so stay tuned…