Tupac Shakur Biopic Picks Up Another New Director
Following a small cameo inStraight Outta Comptonthis summer,Tupac Shakurmay finally get his own big-screen biopic. The long-gestating project has just found a new director inBenny Boom, replacingCarl Franklin(who in turn replacedJohn Singleton). More details on the Tupac biopic director update after the jump.
THRreports Boom has entered negotiations with production company Morgan Creek to direct the Tupac movie — and just in time, too. Under the current deal, if the film isn’t in production by the end of the year, the music rights will revert back to Shakur’s motherAfeni Shakur. The timing also lets the movie capitalize on the recent success ofStraight Outta Compton, another ’90s rap biopic which featured a brief appearance by Shakur (played by actorMarcc Rose).
Boom confirmed the news onInstagram.
I am blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime. Telling the story of this revolutionary, artist, visionary, genius, soldier! I will make him proud and uphold the legacy. ????
A photo posted by @boomlife onNov 30, 2015 at 4:37pm PST
The Tupac Shakur movie has been in development for years already, and beset with legal and creative issues for much of that time. In 2009, the company sued Afeni Shakur for the music rights, and she responded by suing them back. The two sides finally reached an agreement in 2011, andAntoine Fuquawasattached to direct. When Fuqua’s version of the film fell apart, John Singleton (who’d worked with Shakur in 1993’sPoetic Justice)replaced him.
Singleton stayed on board for a few years but dropped out this past spring over “major creative differences.” “The reason I am not making this picture is because the people involved aren’t really respectful of the legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur,” he explained onInstagram. Carl Franklin (Out of Time)stepped in to direct instead, but eventually he dropped out too. In October, Emmett Furla Oasis sued Morgan Creek, alleging that the latter had breached a co-production agreement by choosing a lead and setting a budget and schedule without Emmett / Furla’s approval.
None of this is to say the Tupac Shakur movie can’t work out, of course — plenty of great movies have been plagued with problems behind the scenes. But the fact that Morgan Creek is rushing into production to hang onto the rights doesn’t seem like a good sign. Boom will have his work cut out for him, in any case.
Boom previously helmed the Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) comedyNext Day Airand the direct-to-DVD crime thrillerS.W.A.T.: Firefight. However, he’s best known as the director of music videos for Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Keyshia Cole, Nas, Nelly, and many more. Sample some of his work below:
