Tupac Biopic Casts Lead Roles for Shakur, Biggie Smalls
By Dave McNary
The Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me has cast newcomer Demetrius Shipp, Jr. to play the rap legend.
Music video/commercial director Benny Boom is helming the movie, which has launched production in Atlanta. Carl Franklin and John Singleton had been attached to direct the project during earlier stages of development, which began in 2011.
Jamal Woolard has been cast as Biggie Smalls. Woolard also portrayed Smalls in the 2009 film Notorious.
On set #AllEyezOnMe pic.twitter.com/ovTSU048ZY
— Demetrius Shipp Jr (@DemetriusShipJR) December 20, 2015
Shakur, who died in 1996 from gunshot wounds, has sold more than 75 million albums. Earlier versions of the script chronicled his rise to superstardom as a hip hop artist and actor, his imprisonment on charges of sexual assault and the East Coast-West Coast rap war.
Shakur was portrayed by Marcc Rose in this summer’s hit N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.
Shipp appears to have a close physical resemblance to Shakur. He has been tweeting photos from the set.
