Cynthia Erivo to Portray Afeni Shakur in Snoop Dogg Biopic
The actress joins a star-studded cast in Craig Brewer’s film, which enters production in Southern California for a 2027 release.
By Ella Cox ·
Cynthia Erivo will play Afeni Shakur in the upcoming biographical film about Snoop Dogg.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the casting on November 5, 2026. Erivo, who is currently one Oscar away from completing an EGOT, will depict the mother of Tupac Shakur. The film is directed by Craig Brewer, who is working from a script originally written by Joe Robert Cole. Production is currently taking place in Southern California.
The movie features a large ensemble cast portraying key figures from the hip-hop era. Newcomer Jonathan Daviss plays Snoop Dogg, while Myles Bullock portrays Dr. Dre. Other cast members include Lauren London as Snoop’s mother, Beverly Tate, and Algee Smith as Warren G. Tre Hale plays Suge Knight, and Camron Jones takes on the role of 2Pac. The production team includes Snoop Dogg and Sara Ramaker, the president of Death Row Pictures, as producers.
Snoop Dogg has previously described his relationship with Afeni Shakur as a source of guidance in his life. He spoke to Extra at the 2023 premiere of the Hulu docuseries Dear Mama. Snoop said he was anxious to see the story told because the bond between mother and son is important to the current cultural moment. He noted that Afeni Shakur was a strong Black woman who led by example and provided him with spiritual inspiration.
In that same interview, Snoop explained that Afeni Shakur gave him input on his life choices and encouraged him to continue his work. She passed away on May 2, 2016. The film aims to capture these personal details and the musical history of the era. The production team expects to maintain the accuracy of the music and the source material. The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters in 2027.
