Just two days ago the Los Angeles Times ran a report regarding the planned Tupac Shakur biopic simply titled Tupac, which was to be directed by Training Day helmer Antoine Fuqua. Their report said Morgan Creek had issued a “pay-or-play” deal (a guaranteed payment whether he makes the film or not) to Fuqua to stay on board the project.
This was newsworthy because Fuqua was also flirting with a boxing feature to star rapper Eminem called Southpaw. However, tonight there may be even more reason to get the Tupac feature moving quicker… then again, perhaps it could put the brakes on the project for a few years depending on how you look at it.
Hip hop website AllHipHop.com ran a report yesterday afternoon in which a man name Dexter Isaac alleges he was the gunman in the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur that resulted in the rapper being shot five times and robbed at Manhattan’s Quad Studios. The confession, which you can read right here in full, is where he says, “In 1994, James Rosemond hired me to rob 2pac Shakur at the Quad Studio. He gave me $2,500, plus all the jewelry I took, except for one ring, which he wanted for himself… I still have as proof the chain that we took that night in the robbery.”
AllHipHop reports Isaac is already serving life in prison for murder, robbery and other offenses.
Today, June 16, would have marked Shakur’s 40th birthday and in a statement from prison to AllHipHop, the alleged shooter said, “I want to apologize to his family [Tupac Shakur] and for the mistake I did for that sucker [Jimmy Henchman]… I am trying to clean it up to give [Tupac and Biggie’s] mothers some closure.”
Now while Isaac isn’t confessing to Tupac’s murder, which occurred in September 1996, this certainly does open the door to more investigations, which it looks like is exactly what it may do as the Wall Street Journal was told by NYPD spokesman Paul Browne that if police determine the post is legitimate they will seek to interview the prisoner. There is also that matter that involves Rosemond long-denying any involvement in the shooting.
Being a movie website I now have to wonder, what does this mean for the Tupac biopic, which was to chronicle the life and legacy of Shakur. You certainly can’t tell the story of his life and leave out this major piece of the puzzle, especially if it leads to more of the story being revealed. Thing is, do you make the film with only the confession in mind or do you wait to see how all of this plays out?
As of the posting of the “Los Angeles Times” piece an actor to play Shakur had yet to be found. In the 2009 drama Notorious centering on another famed and murdered rap star, The Notorious B.I.G., Shakur was portrayed by Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker), but for this new film we may be looking at an unknown actor as Steven Zeitchik writes: “While the company has looked at several veteran actors, a person familiar with the production who asked anonymity because of the sensitive nature of casting discussions said producers are leaning toward an unknown who has a similar look and background to the Harlem-born, California-raised star. They would then coach him on the acting skills.”
I must say, no matter what Morgan Creek decides to do things related to this film just got a whole lot more interesting.
