You could certainly make an argument for Matt Damon being the most sought after A-list film talent on the planet right now and you really get the feeling his name is at the top of every studio wish list for every movie put into production.

Variety say the actor has joined the Nelson Mandela biopic The Human Factor, which sees Morgan Freeman play what could easily become his defining role as the former South African President. The movie is to be directed by Clint Eastwood.

Damon will play rugby star Francois Pienaar, who created, with Nelson Mandela, an event that gave whites and blacks in South Africa a common cause to rally around as the country was trying to heal from the wounds of apartheid. Mandela was in his first term as South African president, and he used the event as a way to end decades of mistrust and hatred between blacks and whites.

The whole project was cooked up by Freeman who has been a long admirer of Mandela, asking first for his blessing to play him in a film (and he wisely agreed) and then quickly turning to his good friend Eastwood as a director he could trust to make this film a reality.

Filming should begin next year as Damon has requested some well deserved time off once he has finished the Stephen Soderbergh thriller The Informant.