Actor Ben Schnetzer, best known for his role in the film ‘Pride’ is set to play Dan Eldon in a biopic of the photojournalists life.
Dan Eldon was a British born, Kenyan photojournalist who, along with three colleagues, was stoned to death prior to the battle of Mogadishu in 1993.
Eldon is renown for his colourful journals that were published after his death.
In his teens Eldon began taking photographs that were published by various newspapers. His mother Kathy was a journalist. He was also a prominent social activist raising money for people he met who needed help.
After after attending college in the USA Eldon began working for Reuters as a photographer in Africa. His pictures of war torn Somalia were published around the world.
In July 1993 the US forces attacked a safe house which was believed to be the hiding place of self proclaimed president Mohammed Farrah Aidid. When Eldon and his colleagues arrived to cover the attack they were captured by an angry mob and stoned and beaten to death.
A film on the life on Eldon has been in the works for a long time, previously Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe was attached to play the lead role. Now Ben Schnetzer, who played Mark Ashton in the film ‘Pride’ has signed on to bring Eldon’s life to the screen. The film will be shot in South Africa.
Aside from his role in ‘Pride’, Schnetzer has starred in the short lived US series ‘Happy Town’ and had a lead role in the film ‘The Book Thief” alongside Geoffrey Rush. Later this year he will appear in the feature film ‘Warcraft’ based on the popular online game ‘World of Warcraft’.
OIP Staff
