Terrence Howard talks competition with Idris Elba over 'Mandela' films

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Terrence Howard is arguably having his most successful year as a working actor in Hollywood.

This weekend, the 44-year-old Oscar nominee will have 3 films in theaters: Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Winnie Mandela, and will be starring alongside Hugh Jackman in the crime drama Prisoners.

During an interview with theGrio, Howard opened up about the incredible year he is having in film.

“You feel fortunate because a lot of great work that people are doing out there…they won’t ever get recognition for it,For me to have the work of my hands and the sweat of my brow actually receive accolades and people appreciate it… I’m thankful.”

Howard stars as South African revolutionary Nelson Mandela in the biopic Winnie Mandela. The film was initially slated to hit theaters in the fall of 2011, but subsequently was delayed, which Howard blames on “the post-production process.”

“It was supposed to come out 2 years ago,” Howard confessed. “The post-production process… the management of it… but everything comes out when it’s supposed to. So we’ll see what happens with it.”

Idris Elba also stars as Mandela in the highly anticipated film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which hits theaters in November.

When asked if there will be any competition between him and Elba with their roles as Mandela, Howard said, “Well I would hope so.”

“No one actor can tell the full story of Nelson Mandela and his sacrifices,” he continued. “So you need Morgan Freeman, you need Idris, you need myself to tell different perspectives of it. We’re all just paying homage to the work of a great man.”

Prisoners hits theaters nationwide tomorrow.

Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter for more Entertainment news at @WitherspoonC