Snoop Dogg’s biopic has added Cynthia Erivo as Afeni Shakur, the political activist and mother of Tupac. The casting brings another major performer into “Snoop,” which is already filming in Southern California. Directed by Craig Brewer, the Universal Pictures production is scheduled to reach cinemas on August 6, 2027, with Jonathan Daviss playing the rapper at the centre of the story.
Snoop Dogg’s life is heading to the screen with an ensemble that reaches well beyond the performer himself. Universal Pictures confirmed on November 4 that Cynthia Erivo will portray Afeni Shakur in “Snoop.” The film is in production in Southern California, and the casting adds a figure whose importance to hip-hop includes both her political activism and her relationship with her son, Tupac Shakur. The precise extent of her role in the story has not been disclosed.
Erivo moves from the fantasy world of “Wicked” into a film rooted in real people and events. A Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner with three Oscar nominations, she takes on a woman whose life cannot be understood simply through her connection to a famous musician. Afeni was a political activist and a member of the Black Panther movement, before becoming an important presence in the preservation of her son’s musical legacy.
Tupac explored their complicated relationship in “Dear Mama,” released on his 1995 album “Me Against the World.” The song addresses hardship, conflict and continuing love, making his family history part of a deeply personal recording. It reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for best rap solo performance. The album was also nominated for best rap album, further establishing the significance of that period in his career.
Born Alice Faye Williams in 1947, Afeni became politically active in New York. She was arrested with other Black Panther members in 1969 in the case known as the Panther 21, and was acquitted in 1971, shortly before Tupac was born. After his death in 1996, she took an active role in managing his legacy. She died in 2016, aged 69. Those experiences give the new screen portrayal a substantial history beyond the events of any one song.
Although “Snoop” centres on Snoop Dogg, its cast points towards the wider musical environment in which his career developed. Jonathan Daviss, known from “Outer Banks,” plays the lead, while Camron Jones portrays Tupac and Myles Bullock takes the role of Dr. Dre. The latter was a defining collaborator in the rapper’s early rise. Their inclusion suggests that professional relationships will form part of the narrative, without revealing exactly how individual episodes will be dramatised.
Two mothers in the cast should not be confused. Lauren London plays Beverly Tate, Snoop’s mother, while Erivo portrays Afeni Shakur. Laya DeLeon Hayes appears as Shante Broadus, his wife, and Algee Smith plays Warren G. The family roles sit alongside the musical ones, indicating a story with a personal dimension as well as an account of recordings, partnerships and the emergence of a major West Coast artist.
Other announced performers include Tre Hale as Suge Knight, Olly Sholotan as Kurupt, Corey Champagne as Nate Dogg and Jonica Booth as The Lady of Rage. SwayvoTwain takes the role of The Notorious B.I.G. The collection of names reflects the interconnected world surrounding Snoop Dogg during a period when West Coast hip-hop gained enormous influence. Casting announcements alone, however, do not establish how much screen time each historical figure will receive.
Craig Brewer directs the feature. His credits include “Hustle & Flow” and “Song Sung Blue,” and he has reworked an original screenplay by Joe Robert Cole, whose work includes “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Universal has dated the theatrical release for August 6, 2027. That remains a scheduled release rather than an account of a completed public premiere, with filming still underway when the latest casting was announced.
Snoop Dogg is producing alongside Sara Ramaker, president of Death Row Pictures. Brian Grazer and Allan Mandelbaum of Imagine Entertainment are also producers. Grazer’s previous work includes “8 Mile,” another film closely associated with a major rap artist. “Snoop” is the first film under the Death Row Pictures agreement with NBCUniversal Entertainment, placing the project within a broader production partnership rather than treating it as an isolated screen appearance.
Her recent work as Elphaba in “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good” has brought Erivo considerable international attention. Other announced projects include “Prima Facie,” “Children of Blood and Bone,” “Bad Fairies” and “Karoshi.” The separate Makeba film, “The Road Home,” is directed by Bill Condon. These are distinct productions, and her involvement in them should not be mistaken for additional characters or storylines within the Snoop Dogg film.
The film will draw on the rapper’s catalogue, although a track list and details of how particular songs will be used have not been announced. His connection with Tupac includes “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted,” from the 1996 album “All Eyez on Me.” For Erivo, portraying Afeni adds to a busy screen schedule that also includes a separate Miriam Makeba project. For now, no footage showing her in the role has been released. The casting is the confirmed development as Snoop Dogg’s story continues through production towards its planned cinema debut.
