John Singleton Stops Directing The New Tupac Biopic

By: Antoinette Alston, contributing intern

Those of you who are waiting for the new biopic of Tupac Shakur will have to wait a little longer. John Singleton, filmmaker of the epic urban film, ‘Boyz n the Hood’ and first black Oscar Emmy nominee in 1992, decided to stop directing the film.

Mr. Singleton took to Instagram to explain his feelings regarding the new project and his affiliation with Morgan Creek Productions who hired him to direct the film saying:

“Real talk! The reason I am not making this picture is because the people involved aren’t really respectful of the legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur. I won’t say much if you want you can read my articles in Hollywood Reporter on authenticity in Black storytelling…To Pac’s real fans just know I am still planning a movie on Tupac…It doesn’t matter what they do mines will be better…Tupac was much more than a hip hop artist…He was a black man guided by his passions…Of most importance was his love of black people and culture…Something the people involved in this movie know nothing about…Real talk! How you gonna make a movie about a man when you suing his mother to get the rights to tell his story?!”

The claim against Afeni Shakur and Amaru Entertainment by Morgan Creek Productions stated, “Amaru Entertainment is in violation for refusing to honor a film contract based on Tupac’s life.”

“Tupac touched so many people in his brief life and it makes me feel honored in keeping his message alive,” Afeni Shakur told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “And I want to do so with integrity – in the right way with the right people…That’s what Tupac would have wanted.”

Mr. Singleton believes he too has dedicated himself to the fans of Tupac, and with this belief has dedicated himself to honoring Tupac’s legacy. He has also insisted he will make his own biopic and it will be better.

In the same Instagram post, Mr. Singleton also said, “They have no true love 4 Pac so this movie will not be made with love! And that’s why my ass isn’t involved! If Tupac knew what was going on he’d ride on all these fools and take it to the streets…But I won’t do that…I’ll just make my own project. What Y’all think about that?!!”

Carl Franklin, filmmaker of Out of Time, High Crimes, and Devil in a Blue Dress has been selected to replace Mr. Singleton for the Tupac biopic with Morgan Creek Productions, and Ms. Shakur will be the executive producer.