2Pac Biopic Producer Wants $10 Million, Explodes Over Secret Casting

Written By Cyrus Langhorne

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The long-awaited biopic for late hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur may experience another setback thanks to a production company which wants $10 million for a secret casting.

Details of the legal drama bubbled online late Wednesday (October 28) night.

The long-gestating biopic of rapper Tupac Shakur is the subject of a lawsuit filed Wednesday by production company Emmett Furla Oasis against Morgan Creek Productions, which Emmett/Furla says has breached the companies’ co-production agreement by selecting a lead actor and setting a budget and production schedule without Emmett/Furla’s approval. The company wants $10 million in damages. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Additional reports claim a strict agreement came together two years ago on casting approval.

Emmett and Furla say they signed an agreement to produce the biopic with Morgan Creek in September 2013. Terms of the agreement include a production budget not above $30 million, mutual approval for the production schedule and distribution and sales agreements and sole approval for Emmett/Furla of the director (Carl Franklin recently replaced John Singleton) and the actor who would portray Shakur, they say. (Billboard)

Production and casting for the biopic reportedly started to take place last summer.

Still no word who will play Tupac.And now the production is casting for Dr. Dre, Biggie Smalls, and Faith Evans. But the Morgan Creek-produced film has a start date of October. Of course, “Tupac” becomes much more incendiary with the main character’s unsolved murder. Also, the production may have to cast Madonna, who now talks about her 1993 affair with the rapper openly. (Showbiz 411)

According to reports, creative differences ultimately sparked director John Singleton’s departure from the biopic last spring.

“There are major creative differences,” an individual with knowledge of the project said. “Honestly, Morgan Creek can make a sub-par Tupac movie and move on. If John Singleton makes a bad Tupac movie? It’s something he’d have to live with for the rest of his life.” Carl Franklin, who directed Denzel Washington in 1995’s “Devil in a Blue Dress,” will replace Singleton, TheWrap has learned. Franklin is repped by Paradigm, Anonymous Content and attorney Lawrence Rose. (TheWrap)

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Written by Cyrus Langhorne

SOHH.com Writer. You're likely to find me covering hip-hop news and music releases. Netflix is still my go-to before Disney Plus.

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