Morgan Freeman as Mandela seems like a given for this upcoming movie.

But Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar?

To start Damon is 5' 10" and maybe 190 lb on a good day whereas Pienaar is at least 6' 3" and over 240. but more than that little suspension of disbelief, has Damon ever handled a rugby ball? An obvious candidate for the part, to me, is out gay ex-rugby player and erstwhile actor Ian Roberts. He's already worn the colors since the Australian Kangaroos share them with the Springboks. And though his acting resume may be thinner than Damon's, with lightweight stuff like Fudge Packing Heat, no way Damon could look this natural on a rugby pitch. And that exclusive acting school experience has probably given Ian the chops to at least pull off the Afrikaaner-tinged English of Pienaar - not far off from the Aussie. Someone might give Freeman a heads-up. Roberts was made for this part as surely as Freeman was for Tata Mandiba.

Cate Blanchett as Bob Dylan? Robert Downey, Jr. in 'Tropic Thunder'?

I think that's why it's called acting.

Colin Ferrell as "Alexander" was acting - as well as a lot of hair-coloring - and not very good at that IMO.

But no actor can add 50 pounds of muscle, much less 5 inches of height just for a part.

Besides Roberts would have the rugby realism down-pat. He's a cinch for the part. I think it's short-sighted star-worship and insider mutual backpatting that get Damon this part.

He could magnanimously show his gay-friendliness by alerting Freeman to Roberts if he knew about him.