Matt Damon has signed on to star in Clint Eastwood’s “The Human Factor,” a look at the life of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

Variety reports Damon will jump into the role of rugby player Francois Pienaar, who teamed up with Mandela to travel around the country after the fall of apartheid.

Written by Anthony Peckham and based on a book by John Carlin, the film also gives in insight into Mandela’s life during his first term as president, when he backed South Africa’s Springboks team at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Morgan Freeman is on board to play Mandela. Damon most recently starred in “The Bourne Ultimatum.” He is currently filming “The Informant” for director Steven Soderbergh.

Eastwood’s latest film “The Exchange” (formerly known as “Changeling”) premiered at Cannes two weeks ago and is due in theaters Nov. 7, 2008.