Cynthia Erivo to Play Tupac’s Mother Afeni Shakur in Snoop Dogg Biopic — and the Casting Has Everybody Talking

Cynthia Erivo is stepping into one of the most sacred roles in Hip Hop history — and the internet already has a lot to say about it.

Universal Pictures confirmed Wednesday that the Oscar-nominated actress has been cast as Afeni Shakur, the late mother of Tupac Shakur, in the upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic, Snoop. The film follows Snoop’s rise through Death Row Records, and Tupac — played by Camron Jones — was always going to be part of that story. Now his mother is, too.

Erivo joins a stacked ensemble led by Outer Banks star Jonathan Daviss as Snoop himself. Lauren London plays Snoop’s late mother, Beverly Tate. Algee Smith is Warren G, Myles Bullock is Dr. Dre, and Tre Hale takes on Suge Knight. Rapper SwayvoTwain — the son of the late D’Angelo and the late Angie Stone — will portray The Notorious B.I.G., while G Perico plays Snoop’s early mentor Big Reecie Cup. Kurupt and Nate Dogg will be played by Olly Sholotan and Corey Champagne. Ice-T confirmed last month that he will appear in the film as well, though he did not say in what role.

The movie is directed by Craig Brewer, the man behind Hustle & Flow, and produced by Brian Grazer of 8 Mile fame alongside Snoop himself. It is the first film under Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal. Cameras are already rolling in Southern California, and Snoop is set to hit theaters on August 6, 2027.

Afeni Shakur was far more than Tupac’s mother. Before her son became one of Hip Hop’s unforgettable voices, she was a Black Panther activist in New York — one of the defendants in the Panther 21 case, acquitted in 1971, shortly before Tupac was born. Their complicated, loving relationship inspired his 1995 classic “Dear Mama,” and after his death in 1996, Afeni spent the rest of her life guarding his legacy until her own passing in 2016.

Erivo’s casting has already reopened a familiar debate. When she was cast as Harriet Tubman in the 2019 biopic Harriet, some critics questioned why a British actress — Erivo was born in London to Nigerian parents — had been chosen to portray a Black American historical figure. Old social media posts of hers resurfaced at the time, which some read as mocking Black Americans; Erivo denied that reading, saying her words were taken out of context. She addressed the larger conversation in a 2020 interview with Roxane Gay for The Hollywood Reporter, acknowledging that “valid points had been made,” and revisited it with The Guardian just last month, saying, “I still think it’s happening,” and calling the ongoing debate “a waste of everyone’s time.”

Whatever side of that conversation you fall on, Erivo’s résumé speaks for itself. The 39-year-old is a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner who earned an Academy Award nomination for Harriet, portrayed Aretha Franklin in National Geographic’s Genius, and most recently played Elphaba in 2024’s Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good. Now she takes on Afeni — a woman whose strength shaped one of the greatest rappers who ever lived.

Watch Tupac’s tribute to her below — “Dear Mama” — and tell us what you think of this casting. Is Erivo the right choice to play Afeni Shakur?

What do y’all think — is Cynthia Erivo the right pick to play Afeni Shakur? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and keep it locked to Kiss 101.7 for more on the Snoop biopic as the cast keeps growing. Got a request or a hot take? Hit the request line at +1 302-357-9831 — we want to hear from you!

Source: XXL and HotNewHipHop