More than one year after first signing on, directorJohn Singletonhas reportedly backed out of theUntitled Tupac Shakur Project, withShowbizz 411claiming thatCarl Franklinis set to replace him at the helm.Carl Franklin’s name was attached to a casting call which is seeking an actor to playTupac Shakurhimself.John Singletonhad been working on the script for quite some time, and even discussed the project at length on the Oscars red carpet just months ago. But the director recently revealed toXXL Magazinethat the project is on hold. Here’s what he had to say in the interview:
“I think the picture is not going to be good unless it’s offensive to some people. So, whenever you make a movie, you always have different elements that people have their say about. But when I’m making my movies,John Singletonmovies, it’s really just my voice. So I can’t be listening to all the other suggestions of all these other people and s–t. So we’re not going to pull the trigger on that until it’s right. If somebody else wants to do something different then they can do something different. But if it’s going to be right, it’s going to be right. It’s going to be something that potentially adorns ‘Pac’s legacy.”
A source forThe Wraprevealed there are creative differences between the director and Morgan Creek Productions.
“There are major creative differences. Honestly, Morgan Creek can make a sub-parTupacmovie and move on. IfJohn Singletonmakes a badTupacmovie? It’s something he’d have to live with for the rest of his life.”
The original script was written by Steven Bagatourian, Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson, which was rewritten byJohn Singleton. The project has seen its fair share of obstacles to overcome, afterTupac Shakur’s mother,Afeni Shakur, sued Morgan Creek Productions over his life rights.Afeni Shakuris now an executive producer on the project, whichAntoine Fuquawas originally set to direct back in 2011. James G. Robinson, David C. Robinson andL.T. Huttonare set to produce, although it isn’t clear when production may begin.
No story details have been confirmed, but the project is said to follow rapperTupac Shakur’s rapid rise to fame in the 1980s and 1990s, before he was gunned down and killed in Las Vegas in 1996. The murder case still remains unsolved to this day.Carl Franklinmost recently directedBless Me, Ultima, and his other directorial credits includeOut of Time, High Crimes and Devil in a Blue Dress.
