Cynthia Erivo to Play Tupac Shakur’s Mother in Snoop Dogg Biopic

Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner Cynthia Erivo has joined the cast of Universal’s upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic and is set to portray Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur.

Jonathan Daviss leads the cast of “Snoop,” which is described as the “definitive biopic of the entertainment mogul and icon,” Snoop Dogg.

Erivo joins the film’s starry ensemble, which also features Myles Bullock Be (as Dr. Dre), Lauren London (Snoop’s late mother, Beverly Tate), Camron Jones (Tupac Shakur), Algee Smith (Warren G), Tre Hale (Suge Knight), Laya DeLeon Hayes (Snoop’s wife, Shante Broadus), Olly Sholotan (Kurupt), Corey Champagne (Nate Dogg) and Jonica Booth (The Lady of Rage).

Afeni Shakur was a prominent member of the Black Panther Party. Born in North Carolina as Alice Faye Williams in 1947, she moved to the Bronx with her mother as an 11-year-old. She joined the Panthers after hearing Bobby Seale speak in 1968, and married fellow Black Panther member Lumumba Shakur soon after.

Craig Brewer (“Hustle and Flow,” “Song Sung Blue”) is directing “Snoop,” which Universal dated for theatrical release on Aug. 6, and it’s based on his rewrite of Joe Robert Cole’s (“Black Panther,” ”Wakanda Forever”) original script.

Snoop Dogg is producing “Snoop,” which will incorporate music from his vast catalog, alongside Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer (“8 Mile”), Allan Mandelbaum and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker. “Snoop” is the first project under Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios. Senior VP of production development Ryan Jones and director of development Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the studio.

Erivo recently hosted “Saturday Night Live: U.K.” and starred in “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good.” She earned her Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice, NAACP, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations for her portrayal of Elphaba. Up next, she executive produced and stars in the film adaptation of “Prima Facie.” The film premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. She also stars in “Children of Blood and Bone,” directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The film includes Viola Davis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Regina King and Lashana Lynch, and it will open on Jan. 15.

Erivo is represented by UTA, Entertainment 360, The Lede Company and Peikoff Mahan Law Office.

The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.