Production for Morgan Creek’s Tupac Shakur biopic will begin soon because a search for a new director is currently underway.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, music video and film director Benny Boom is currently in talks to helm the film.
Morgan Creek has been working for years to bring the biopic to the big screen. The company is hoping that the production on the film will begin by the end of this year as they are on the brink of losing the music rights to Tupac’s mother Afeni Shakur.
John Singleton was originally set to direct, but he eventually dropped out in April. Carl Franklin then took over, but he quietly exited the project. Regarding his departure from the project, Singleton said:
The people involved aren’t really respectful of the legacy of Tupac.
He trashed Morgan Creek and further promised that he will make his own rival project.
The project was plagued with problems since its inception.
Morgan Creek previously sued Afeni Shakur for the music rights to the film. In late October, a USD10 million lawsuit was being filed against Morgan Creek by producers Emmett/Furla. The producers claimed that the company selected a lead actor and set a budget and production schedule without the approval of Emmett/Furla.
The Tupac character has appeared as supporting roles in 2009’s “Notorious” and “Straight Outta Compton”. newcomer Marcc Rose and Anthony Mackie.
Boom is known primarily for directing music videos, and won “Director of the Year” at the BET Awards this year. He also directed “Next Day Air” and “S.W.A.T.:Fireflight”.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter.
