Looks like shooting on a Tupac Shakur biopic will finally begin rolling later this year, as producer Randall Emmett told Collider that the film is ready to begin shooting in June. Plans originally set the film to begin shooting during early 2011 before a lawsuit brought things to a halt: Production company Morgan Creek and Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, traded lawsuits debating whether a deal had been agreed upon or not. After a settlement was reached, Ajeni got some creative control as one of the film's executive producers (from Rolling Stone).
One of the more important details that was also confirmed by Emmett: Morgan Creek has secured the rights for the entirety of Shakur's music catalogue. They'll need it. The biopic isn't focusing on any one part of the emcee's life, starting at his upbringing and continuing through his emergence as one of hip-hop's major figures, the East Coast/West Coast conflict and his eventual death. He made a lot of music in between.
"We want to be real and raw, about the things and the gangster life that he was involved in, growing up in the way that he grew up," the producer said. "But we also want to honor the talent that he had because he really was, in my opinion for sure, one of the greatest talents that ever lived in music and hip-hop."
Could be a long film.
One positive fans can definitely take from the production: John Singleton will be directing. The director had worked with Shakur before, during the production for Poetic Justice, and he also helmed Boyz N The Hood, the film that detailed life on the seedier side of Los Angeles, starring Ice Cube during his N.W.A. days.
Casting decisions haven't been made official as of yet but stay tuned to see who'll be playing the iconic emcee.
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