Tupac Shakur's Movie Will be Made if Director Benny Boom Stays on Board

The Tupac Shakur biopic about the late rapper has finally contracted a director after two have left the production company amid controversial issues. Now, the legendary hip hop music video director, Benny Boom, will get a shot at the film. To date, he has directed the 2009 comedy, Next Day Air and S.W.A.T.: Firefight. He has also recently won video director of the year at the BET Awards.

Morgan Creek productions has been working on the Tupac project for years but several disputes has halted forward progress. The production company sued the late rapper's mother, Afeni Shakur, for the music rights. Apparently, Pac's mother is currently working clsoely with the studio, even after the lawsuit was filed. John Singleton, the Academy Award nominated director who started in the film industry at the age of 22 with the movie, Boyz N The Hood, was signed on to direct the film but according to Vibe, he quit in April and posted on Instagram, "The people involved aren't really respectful of the legacy of Tupac." Singleton has since directed an episode of Fox's Empire television series.

A few months later, Carl Franklin replaced Singleton, but he left the project as well, and by October, producers Emmett/Furla filed a lawsuit against Creek for $10 million citing a "breach of co-production agreement by selecting a lead actor and setting a budget and production schedule without Emmett/Furla's approval," shared The Hollywood Reporter. If the production is not in motion by the end of the year, Tupac's film will revert back to his estate, which is overseen by his mother, Afeni. Since the success of Biggie's Notorious B.I.G. and Straight Outta Compton, the production house is banking on similar ticket sales (or better) and plans to release the film next year during the twentieth anniversary of the slain entertainer's death.