The long-gestating Tupac Shakur biopic is finally scheduled to go in front of the cameras. The only remaining issue is that there is still no director or actor attached to the film about the late rapper.
Back in September, there was a report from Deadline that the project finally got the greenlight. Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films and Morgan Creek Productions are producing and financing and the script was written by Eddie Gonzalez and Jeremy Haft. The budget is set at $45 million.
Now, today, in a report from the American Film Market, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that shooting will start in Spring 2014. Producer Randall Emmett had also confirmed the news during a reception with friends and family, the site reports.
With production expected to start so soon, a director should be announced soon. According to Indiewire, Antoine Fuqua (Olympus Has Fallen) was set to direct in 2011, with Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson on the script. There had also been talk of John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood) directing, but that also never worked out.
The 2011 incarnation stopped because of a legal battle between Shakur’s mother, Afeni Shakur, and Morgan Creek. The studio sued her, claiming that she was trying to take too much creative control, even though she already signed away her son’s life rights. She countersued, alleging that no such deal was ever made. Eventually, the two sides settled their dispute and Afeni Shakur is now executive producing.
Who would you like to see direct and star?
image: Amazon