Tupac Biopic Reborn as John Singleton Agrees to Direct

You know all those wild conspiracy theories that Tupac Shakur is loungin' on an island somewhere, dropping posthumous LPs of "previously unreleased material" and makin' mad loot? It's all ridiculous, of course, but a biopic on the life of Tupac was beginning to look like just as much of a pipe dream. Antoine Fuqua had been circling the project for awhile, even signing a pay-for-play deal at one point, before formally dropping out when it was impossible to find an actor to play the charismatic rapper. Three years ago John Singleton entered his name into the mix, and now it looks like he'll be the one to bring Tupac's story to the big screen.

According to Variety, Singleton has agreed to direct the untitled Tupac biopic, producing and rewriting the screenplay which will follow Tupac Shakur's rise in the combative hip-hop game in the '90s, using a combination of gangsta rap and politically-charged lyrics to become one of the most popular rappers ever. The story will presumably lead all the way up to his murder in 1996, and will probably include his on again/off again beef with Notorious B.I.G.

Tupac starred in one of Singleton's most highly-regarded films, Poetic Justice, and the director planned on working with him many times in the future....

Singleton: “Tupac was the guy who I planned to do a lifetime of films with. His passing deeply affected my life as well as countless people in this world. His life story is as important to my generation.”

Now comes the difficult task of finding someone to embody Tupac on screen. Anthony Mackie couldn't quite pull it off in the B.I.G. biopic, Notorious, and I wouldn't be surprised if Singleton looks to a new face for the role.