The long-in-development Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me has finally kicked off production with a lead actor in place.
Newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr has been tapped to play the rap legend in the film, reports tmz.com. Producer LT Hutton chose Shipp as the lead actor because he appears to have a close physical resemblance to Shakur.
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PHOTO: MOVIEPILOT
No official announcement was made, but Shipp has confirmed the casting news by posting some photos and videos from the set of the movie.
Ready to do some more shooting! #AllEyezOnMe pic.twitter.com/F20ECz3Ivf
— Demetrius Shipp Jr (@DemetriusShipJR) December 22, 2015
#AllEyezOnMe pic.twitter.com/ZkLOcduX09
— Demetrius Shipp Jr (@DemetriusShipJR) December 22, 2015
#AllEyezOnMe pic.twitter.com/CADWMd0FrM
— Demetrius Shipp Jr (@DemetriusShipJR) December 21, 2015
#AllEyezOnMe pic.twitter.com/FHi2vDtXuQ
— Demetrius Shipp Jr (@DemetriusShipJR) December 25, 2015
PHOTO: SEATINGCHAIR
PHOTO: TMZ
PHOTO: TOOREALFORTV
In one of the photographs, Shipp is seen wearing a caramel long coat atop a grey shirt with a black beanie hat.
Tupac biopic finds its leading man in Demetrius Shipp, Jr.: https://t.co/BLGz4fBFmB pic.twitter.com/lW4zI1nJUu
— Consequence of Sound (@coslive) December 24, 2015
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He is also seen talking to his co-star Jamal Woolard, who plays Shakur’s former friend turned rival, rapper Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious BIG or Biggie Smalls.
On set #AllEyezOnMe pic.twitter.com/ovTSU048ZY
— Demetrius Shipp Jr (@DemetriusShipJR) December 20, 2015
All Eyez on Me will cover the rise and fall of Shakur from his wild success as a rapper to his tragic murder in Las Vegas in 1996.
Famous music video director Benny Boom is helming the movie, which is currently filming in Atlanta. There is no official release date just yet, but the biopic is expected to release in the US in 2017.
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