UNITED STATES — Cynthia Erivo Joins Snoop Dogg Biopic to Portray Tupac Shakur’s Mother
Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, who has received Tony, Grammy and Emmy recognition, has been added to the cast of Universal’s upcoming biographical film about Snoop Dogg. She will play Afeni Shakur, the mother of late rapper Tupac Shakur.
Jonathan Daviss is leading the cast of “Snoop,” a production described as the definitive biographical account of entertainment mogul and cultural icon Snoop Dogg.
Erivo joins a high-profile lineup that includes Myles Bullock Be as Dr. Dre, Lauren London as Snoop’s late mother, Beverly Tate, Camron Jones as Tupac Shakur, Algee Smith as Warren G, Tre Hale as Suge Knight, Laya DeLeon Hayes as Snoop’s wife, Shante Broadus, Olly Sholotan as Kurupt, Corey Champagne as Nate Dogg and Jonica Booth as The Lady of Rage.
Afeni Shakur was an influential member of the Black Panther Party. Born Alice Faye Williams in North Carolina in 1947, she relocated to the Bronx with her mother when she was 11 years old. After attending a speech by Bobby Seale in 1968, she became involved with the Panthers. She subsequently married fellow party member Lumumba Shakur.
Craig Brewer, known for directing “Hustle and Flow” and “Song Sung Blue,” is at the helm of “Snoop.” Universal has scheduled the film for a theatrical debut on Aug. 6. The screenplay is based on Brewer’s revised version of the original script written by Joe Robert Cole, whose credits include “Black Panther” and “Wakanda Forever.”
Snoop Dogg is among the film’s producers. The production will feature music from his extensive catalogue. Other producers include Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment, known for “8 Mile,” Allan Mandelbaum and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker.
The movie marks the first production under Death Row Pictures’ overall agreement with NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios. Universal’s senior vice president of production development, Ryan Jones, and director of development Tony Ducret will supervise the project on behalf of the studio.
Erivo recently hosted “Saturday Night Live: U.K.” and appeared in “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good.” Her performance as Elphaba earned her nominations for the Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice, NAACP, BAFTA and Academy Awards.
Her upcoming projects include the film adaptation of “Prima Facie,” which she executive produced and stars in. The production premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
She is also part of the cast of “Children of Blood and Bone,” directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The film features Viola Davis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Regina King and Lashana Lynch, and is scheduled to open on Jan. 15.
Erivo is represented by UTA, Entertainment 360, The Lede Company and Peikoff Mahan Law Office.
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