Cynthia Erivo will portray Afeni Shakur, Tupac Shakur’s mother and a former Black Panthers activist, in Universal Pictures’ upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic. The film, titled “Snoop,” is currently being made in Southern California.
Erivo joins a cast that includes Jonathan Daviss as Snoop Dogg, Myles Bullock as Dr. Dre, Lauren London as Beverly Tate and Camron Jones as Tupac. Ice-T, Algee Smith, Tre Hale, Laya DeLeon Hayes, Olly Sholotan, Corey Champagne, Jonica Booth and SwayvoTwain are also part of the film.
Afeni Shakur was an important figure in her son’s life. Their difficult relationship inspired Tupac’s “Dear Mama,” which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song appeared on his 1995 album “Me Against the World,” which received a Grammy nomination for best rap album; “Dear Mama” was also nominated for best rap solo performance.
Craig Brewer, director of “Hustle & Flow,” is directing “Snoop.” Brian Grazer and Allan Mandelbaum of Imagine Entertainment are producing alongside Snoop Dogg and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. The film is set to feature songs from Snoop Dogg’s catalog.
Sources: Billboard.