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Martin Scorsese working on Leopold II TV series

12:46 17/09/2013

Martin Scorsese will team up with Harry Belafonte to tackle a television mini-series about king Leopold II of the Belgians and his reign over Congo, reports TV Rage. Scorsese is looking to continue with his portrayal of violent historical figures on television, while Belafonte’s interest stems from both his love for the arts and drama as well as his political activism. King Leopold’s reign over the Congo is often cited as an example of colonialism at its very worst. In the 1800s, his rule was responsible for the deaths and mutilation of over ten million Congolese Africans. He initially sent his people to the Congo with the promise of philanthropic missionary work, but secretly he enslaved the native people in order to create massive rubber plantations and add to his immense wealth. He became, at one point, the richest person in the world, while at the same time being associated with countless atrocities, such as cutting off hands, starving people into forced labour, holding children ransom, and burning villages to the ground.  Scorsese will direct the first instalments with other directors to take over for the remainder of the series. 

Written by The Bulletin