John Singleton, the man behind 2 Fast 2 Furious and urban classic Boyz n the Hood has officially signed on to direct and produce a project very dear to his heart, the as yet untitled biopic of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. Variety are reporting that he will also rewrite the script that has been floating around in limbo for a number of years now.
Singleton worked with Shakur before his death on Poetic Justice, which also starred Janet Jackson, and has been quoted saying:
“Tupac was they guy who I planned to do a lifetime of films with…His passing deeply affected my life as well as countless people in the world. His life story is as important to my generation.”
The director had previously been linked with the movie a few years ago but after legal issues with Tupac’s mother and other various problems, a deal was never reached and the movie was put to one side. Training Day director Antone Fuqua was onboard briefly but again production was never green lit. Now Singleton is set to breath new life into the project.
Presumably he would tackle Shakur’s unfathomable rise to fame and the moments leading up to his tragic, controversial death. But as a close friend of the Shakur family, it’s probable that Singleton will focus on celebrating Tupac’s legacy and how much he touched his audience rather than attempting to spotlight the incidents that ended his life in 1996.
No details yet on who might be put forward to portray the iconic hip-hop star, who was seen as a poet and a linchpin in helping to popularise hip-hop music worldwide. Anthony Mackie famously played the part in Notorious, the Biggie Smalls biopic, but it’s unlikely he would be called on to revisit the role.
So who do we think can fill the boots?
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Originally published February 13, 2014. Updated April 11, 2018.
