The forthcoming Tupac Shakur biopic will tell story of the life and times of one of the greatest rappers who has ever lived.
All Eyez on Me has started production in Atlanta under the direction of music video and commercial director Benny Boom with a cast that’s bound to do the legacy of the late rapper justice.
Tupac Biopic Announces Benny Boom as New Director
With stories of his childhood, rise to fame, legal woes and his success on Death Row Records, the film will divulge into all the facets that make Pac’s catalog of music timeless.
Here’s what we know about the production so far:
Newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr. has been cast as Tupac—their resemblance is spot on.
Jamal Woolard will reprise his role as the late Notorious B.I.G. Woolard initially portrayed Biggie in the 2009 biopic, Notorious.
Kat Graham has been cast to play Jada Pinkett Smith, Pac’s friend and high school classmate. The Poetic Justice and Juice actor penned a poem “4 Jada” for the actress in his posthumously published book, The Rose That Grew from Concrete. The two remained close until his death in 1996.
Walking Dead Star, Danai Gurira will star as Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother, whose political activism and involvement with the Black Panthers influenced much of her son’s life.
Danai Gurira to Play Tupac’s Mother Afeni Shakur in ‘All Eyez on Me’
Just Thursday morning, Variety announced The Wire‘s Jamie Hector is set to join the production as Mutulu Shakur, Afeni’s husband and stepfather to Pac. Mutulu worked as an acupuncturist in Harlem who was an advocate for black independence. He was convicted in 1988 after taking part in several robberies and at one point appeared on the FBI’s Most Wanted List.
L.T. Hutton comes on board to produce the project for Morgan Creek Productions.
Hill Harper announced via social media that he will star in the project but it’s unknown who he will play. On an Instagram post she since deleted, singer Keyshia Cole announced that she would be playing a character named Queenie.
All Eyez on Me credits the rapper’s fourth studio album for it’s title which was released in February 1996. In September of the same year, the rapper was fatally shot in Las Vegas during a drive-by-shooting. He died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds that caused respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest. His mother, Afeni, has since been the sole executive of his estate and will serve as the executive producer for the film.
No release date has been announced but when it is, all of our eyes will be glued to the screen.