Morgan Creek Prods. is opting for an unknown for the lead role in the upcoming “Tupac” biopic and has posted an online casting call.
The banner’s launched a web site — insearchoftupac.com — for “individuals who embody Tupac for this starring role.”
The site asks applicants to download a 24-line scene, read the scene on-camera and perform their favorite Tupac Shakur song/rap on camera for no more than a minute. Submissions will be accepted through April 30.
A spokesman said Friday that Morgan Creek aims to start production in early summer in Georgia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York with Antoine Fuqua directing.
Shakur, who died in 1996 after being shot, has sold over 75 million albums. The film chronicles his rise to superstardom as a hip hop artist and actor, his imprisonment on charges of sexual assault and the East coast/West coast rap war.
“Tupac” will be produced by James G. Robinson, David Robinson and L.T. Hutton, and exec produced by Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur. The screenplay was written by Steve Bagatourian, Stephen J. Rivele and Christopher Wilkinson.
Universal will distribute “Tupac” in North America and co-distributes with Morgan Creek Intl. overseas.
