After securing a release date and rolling out an official trailer, some skeptics for the Tupac Shakur biopic, All Eyez on Me, still had their “believe-it-when-I-see-it” goggles on. But Morgan Creek Entertainment, the company who has weathered all the delays surrounding the film, recently reached a deal with the Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment label to distribute the film.
According to the fine print in Morgan Creek’s press release, the deal was negotiated for Morgan Creek by David Robinson, President; and Jessica VanderYacht; David Nochimson of Ziffren Brittenham; and Glen Mastroberte of Latham & Watkins. For Lionsgate, the deal was negotiated by Jason Constantine, President, Acquisitions & Co-Productions; Eda Kowan, Executive Vice President, Acquisitions & Co-Productions; John Biondo, Executive Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, Acquisitions & Co-Productions; and Elizabeth Hopkins, Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs.
For those who aren’t in the know, All Eyez on Me experiences a nationwide release on Friday, June 16, 2017. The date holds the utmost significance, for it would have the late rap legend’s 46th birthday.
All Eyez on Me is directed by Benny Boom and showcases newcomer (and Makaveli doppelgänger Demetrius Shipp Jr. in the lead role as Tupac Shakur; The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira as Afeni Shakur; Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries) as Jada Pinkett; Dominic Santana (Mr. Right) as Suge Knight; Jamal Woolard reprising his role from 2009’s Biggie Smalls biopic Notorious as The Notorious B.I.G.; Keith Robinson (Dreamgirls) as Atron Gregory; Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead) as Leila Steinberg; and Hill Harper (CSI:NY) as the journalist.
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With more than 75 million records sold world (including his All Eyez on Me magnum opus accounting for 10 of those millions) and a historically tragic narrative in Hip Hop that ultimately contributed to his death at just the age of 25, the Tupac biopic definitely has a lot of ground to cover, but early reviews of the film suggest that it’s mission accomplished.
In summer of 2016, The Game proudly proclaimed The Tupac movie is the real deal, shit make that Biggie movie look like a cartoon…I don’t mean no…ay…that’s what it is, homie,” after taking in a screening alongside Program Pictures’ LT Hutton, who also produced the film.
The All Eyez on Me trailer can be seen below.
