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Los Angeles, CA February 10, 2011 – Principal photography is scheduled to begin in late Spring/early Summer on the biopic “TUPAC,” it was announced today James G. Robinson, Co-Chairman/CEO, and Rick Nicita, Co-Chairman/COO, of Morgan Creek Productions. Directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day,” “Brooklyn’s Finest”), the film will be shot on location in Los Angeles, New York, Georgia and Las Vegas and is currently being cast.
The film chronicles the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip hop artist and actor, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records, where he was steeped in the East coast/West coast rap war.
In her support of the upcoming biopic of her late son, Afeni Shakur-Davis said, “I am confident that Morgan Creek will stay true to the common goal we share of depicting Tupac’s life in a way that will allow the world to see the authenticity of his artistry, his hopes, and his life goals.“
Commented producer LT Hutton,”I am honored to be part of the process that is bringing his life and legacy to the big screen. I am thankful to Afeni Shakur for giving this project her blessing and to Morgan Creek for giving it the green light.”
“TUPAC” will be produced by James G. Robinson, David Robinson and LT Hutton, and executive produced by Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur. The screenplay was written by Steve Bagatourian, Stephen J. Rivele & Christopher Wilkinson. Universal Pictures distributes in North America and co-distributes with Morgan Creek International overseas.
Morgan Creek’s next film, “DREAM HOUSE”, directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz will be released through Universal Pictures on September 30, 2011.
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If this doesn’t go to Anthony Mackie someone needs to be fired. He played Tupac in a great all part in the Biggie movie.
Excuse me, sir, but you must not know hip hop if you think Mackie did anything remotely close to playing Tupac. And the Notorious film was a great disappointment and ridiculously boring. It would be cool to see Will Smith play the role, just a thought out the blue, but I doubt it will come to that.
Will Smith…playing Tupac…
Mike, you need to put the crack rock DOWN, brother…
HILARIOUS!!! Almost spit my lunch out… PEACE
Tupac died at 25. No one wants to see a 40 year old Will Smith play this role.
Nobody wants to see a 25, 26, 27, 28 ,29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39. 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, et al year old Will Smith play Tupac.
I don’t think ANYONE should play him. THREE FUCKING BIOPIC MOVIES? What ground has been left uncovered?
If the estate/Alfeni would like to make more money off of Tupac, they should start looking for more music licensing opportunities, i.e., overseas or on other platforms. Not ANOTHER goddamn movie!
Awesome project! Steve Bagatourian is an amazing writer!
the script is horrible
I hope they cast good actors and not like that Biggie pic where all the actors were horrible except Angelia B.
Oh, I get it – it’s Opposite Day, totally missed it on the calendar. Because if ANYONE phoned it in on that movie, it was Angela Basset.
The youngsters playing Biggie, Kim and Faith were excellent to watch and did the material justice.
The otherwise/usually fantastic Angela Basset’s by-the-numbers scenes should have been a moral center/rock to help heighten the relatability and ‘softer’ side of Biggie’s personality…and yet couldn’t have been more trite and Lifetime movie if she tried.
With an actor as talented as she, can’t blame the director or the script.
I would suggest Anthony Mackie as the perfect choice but he’s already played Tupac before so I doubt he’d want to re-visit it.
Are you guys fans of Tupac? Seriously, how can anybody say Mackie playing Tupac was a good job? Pac was portrayed as a lil’ punk pretending to be hard in Notorious.
Mackie is the only way to go dude. If Michael Sheen can play Tony Blair 4 times, why can’t Mackie play Tupac? He is the best actor out there pound for pound and played Tupac beautifully both Off Broadway and in the film Notorious.
Mike are you a fan of Tupac?? You said that you think Will Smith should play the role. You have no credibility whatsoever.
And Tupac was a punk who thought he was hard and then got killed because of that image he portrayed as a gangster and then real gangsters shot him on more than one occasion.
Oooooo, tough guy eh?
Sure I’m a fan of Tupac. I do think Will should be given the role if we’re talking mainstream. Pac was fan of Will and Will is a fan of Pac. Besides, Jada must know Pac better than anybody else. Whether Tupac was a gangster or not, gang members are the majority of his fan-base and his late record deal led by a gangster himself was also a haven for gang members, but that’s besides the point.
Can’t think of a better director to do this great story than Fuqua.
I pray they let him have first cut…and stay out of his way.
Let him tell this story the best way possible.
Just support him all the way. Ya listening Jimmy M?
WOW! Morgan Creek is making a movie! how is that possible as they have not paid residuals to all major guilds for over two years — do these filmmakers not know this?! It was reported here on deadline. How come SAG, DGA and WGA have not pulled their names as signatories or is this a non-union feature? Word of warning, when you go to bed with JAmes Robinson, you wake up with some serious consequences. BTW I mean that both metaphorically and literally ask any hooker.
The overwhelming majority of Morgan Creek’s residual obligations are paid directly to the various guilds by Universal and Warner, on Morgan Creek’s behalf. Check your facts.
Should do well. Fills a niche. Not much out there like it. Millions of youths are steeped in the hip-hop culture here and abroad.
Wow. I got chills. CHILLS thinking about this movie! Can’t wait!
too bad… they should gotten Oliver Stone.
My main point of concern is that Tupca’s mother is anywhere near this. I think that may be why Notorious failed to be a good movie, that felt real. It was trying to deal with the complexity of Biggie’s life, but missed the point and painted things superficially. Come on, we get his mom narrating the end for us and cut to black screen with the words: “With his life, he proved no dream is too big. The sky is the limit.” What a mom move! If this movie ends with that much sentimentality, I’ll barf. I hope Afeni wants to get real.
Fuqua is a solid director with one great film (obviously Training Day). He could knock this out of the park if everyone’s head is in the right place.
forgot to mention that I brought up all that stuff about Biggie’s mom because she produced Notorious. And Afeni is exec producing this
Lane is correct — this is going to be unadulterated hagiography, just like the documentary on him.
Dear Mr. Fuqua,
I suggest you contact the DGA and ask them about Morgan Creek’s financials before you sign that contract. You will find that they have not honored their contracts on ANY of their movies in their library — they have neglected to pay residuals for the past THREE YEARS to any guild. Your actors and writers might be interested in this information and want to know who you are getting into business with.
Sincerely,
ONE WHO KNOWS
That’s an exaggeration. Sometimes distributors, such as Universal, handle the processing of residuals, so I would imagine that they HAVE paid residuals in the last three years for their newer titles. Plus their library titles are either old or crappy, so I wouldn’t expect high dollar amounts to go apeshit about. /relax
I still remember when I heard the news that Tupac died in 1996. I was 12. I am very curious to see who is cast as Tupac. And, Lane does bring up a good point that his mother’s role in the production might lead to a less than complete overview of his life (the good parts and the bad parts).
Typical–the mainstream media glorifying a racist fatherless welfare thug.
Thank God for Fox News.
How was Tupac a racist, sir? He had friends of every race and has fans of every race. And he was not on welfare, sir, his mother was.
the hate you ppl give towards this man is shameful, let him have his legacy, stfu and enjoy the damn movie….RIP Mr. Shakur
It is obvious that people like smarg are either ignorant,uninformed,and/or just full of hatred.
Listen people, the truth about who Pac was and the real reason why he was killed will never be told in any mainstream movie.
Long story short: ignorance is bliss (people can’t handle the truth).
Will Smith to play Tupac? Lol No way. I would hope they would get someone who has a real likeness to him, his skin tone, height, dimples, and someone who can rap or be a great lip syncer.
Will is only a few inches taller. Both have the same skin tone and both have dimples. Both can rap… as a matter of fact Pac himself lip synced to Will Smith as a kid.
Awesome project!
Seriously get ur facts straight. U have not a clue what you’re talking about and you’re only exposing yourself as the ignorant fool that you are.
I’m gonna be Tupac, goodnight