Cynthia Erivo joins Universal Snoop Dogg biopic as Afeni Shakur

Actor Cynthia Erivo has been cast as Afeni Shakur, the mother of Tupac Shakur, in Universal Pictures' upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic, titled Snoop. According to reports from the AV Club, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Wrap, Jonathan Daviss stars in the lead role as Snoop Dogg, while Camron Jones will portray Tupac Shakur. The AV Club and The Wrap also note that Afeni Shakur was a member of the Black Panther Party. [1][2][3][4]

The production is currently filming in southern California with Craig Brewer directing, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap. The project is being produced by Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer alongside Snoop Dogg. The Wrap reports that Brewer wrote the latest draft of the script, revising an original draft by Joe Robert Cole, while the AV Club noted that Brewer recently directed Song Sung Blue. According to The Wrap and ComingSoon, Universal Pictures has scheduled the film for theatrical release on August 6, 2027. [1][3][4][5]

The ensemble cast includes Myles Bullock, Lauren London, Algee Smith, Tre Hale, Laya DeLeon Hayes, Olly Sholotan, Corey Champagne, Jonica Booth, and Swayvo Twain, according to The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter add that Bullock is playing Dr. Dre. The musicians Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur were real-life label mates at Death Row Records, where they recorded collaborations including 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted and Wanted Dead Or Alive, according to the AV Club. [1][2][3][4]

Erivo is an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner who was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2026 New Year Honours for services to music and drama. Tupac Shakur was an influential hip-hop artist and actor whose global record sales surpassed 75 million before his death in 1996. [2][3][10][11][14][15]