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The pre-production for the forthcoming film biopic of Tupac Skakur’s life has been going through a number of troublesome changes since being announced, with production company Morgan Creek now announcing that a third director has been assigned to the project.
Boyz N’ The Hood and the Tupac starring Poetic Justic director John Singleton was originally attached to the movie, but abandoned it after explaining that “the people involved aren’t really respectful of the legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur." Consequence Of Sound reported that Singleton is now working on his own biopic of the late and legendary artist. Carl Franklin then stepped up but also walked away from the troublesome pre-production.
The Hollywood Reporter has claimed that Benny Boom is currently in negotiations to be in the directors chair. He’s known for directing music videos and won the BET Director of the Year award in 2009 after working artist like Nicki Minaj (Beez in the Trap’, “High School”), Meek Mill (‘All Eyes on You’, ‘Ima Boss’), and Lil Wayne (‘Hustler Musik’).
He has two feature films in his repertoire: the 2009 action comedy Next Day Air and 2011’s straight to DVD sequel S.W.A.T.: Firefight. Unfortunately, there was no LL Cool J in that one...
At the end of October, producers Randall Emmett and George Furla filed a $10 million lawsuit against Morgan Creek. The suit claims the company breached a co-production deal when it chose a lead actor, set a budget and created a production schedule without asking for Emmett and Furla’s approval. The name of the actors chosen to play Tupac hasn't been announced yet.
Morgan Creek is already under a great deal of pressure to start production on the film. If they don't begin by December 31st, the music rights will return to Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother. They also have competition from Singleton’s version as well as one from makers of the hugely successful N.W.A biopic, Straight Outta Compton.
Screenwriter S. Leigh Savidge, who's credited for creating the story for Straight Outta Compton, is currently circulating a script titled Welcome to Death Row. Pitched as a companion piece to Compton, the script follows Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Warren G. and Kurupt’s rise to fame during the early ’90s.
Take a peek at a letter that a young Eminem sent to Tupac's mother Afeni Shakur explaining how much her son had inspired him over the years. It was also reported back in March that some new Tupac Material will be emerging this year.
