A biopic on the life of Tupac Shakur is finally getting off the ground and has cast its lead. Newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr. will star in All Eyez On Me.
Photos of the production were posted by TMZ, which notes that the film is expected to cover Tupac’s entire life, up until his murder in 1996. The film is being produced by L.T. Hutton and Morgan Creek, with music video director Benny Boom directing. Filming is underway in Atlanta.
TMZ later reported that Jamal Woolard, who played Biggie Smalls in 2009’s Notorious, was cast to reprise the role in the Tupac movie.
Shipp, who bares an incredible resemblance to Tupac, has been chronicling the production on his Instagram page.
All Eyez On Me, which was once simply titled Tupac, has been in the works for years. At one point, John Singleton (Boyz N The Hood, 2 Fast 2 Furious) was supposed to direct, but he dropped out. There were also plans to shoot last year, but that didn’t pan out either.
The film takes its name from the title of Tupac’s fourth album. The rapper was only 25 when he was killed in 1996.