For the director, see Morgan J. Freeman

In 1994, Freeman portrayed Red, the redeemed convict in Frank Darabont’s acclaimed drama The Shawshank Redemption, with co-star Tim Robbins. It is based on the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. Freeman was cast at the suggestion of producer Liz Glotzer, despite the novella’s character of a white Irishman.[52] Filming proved to be challenging, mainly because of Darabont’s need for multiple takes. Freeman said, “The answer [I’d give him] was no … having to do something again and again for no discernible reason tends to be a bit debilitating to the energy.”[52] Nevertheless, his performance was described as “quietly impressive” and “moving” by The New York Times.[53] At the 67th Academy Awards the film received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and a nomination for Freeman for Best Actor losing to Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994).[54] Since its release, The Shawshank Redemption has remained popular among audiences.[52] In 1994, Freeman served as a member of the jury at the 44th Berlin International Film Festival.[55]