Cynthia Erivo is joining the cast of Snoop, Universal Pictures’ upcoming biopic about Snoop Dogg. The actor and singer will portray Afeni Shakur, the mother of late rapper Tupac Shakur.
The casting was announced on Wednesday, November 4. Erivo joins a cast led by Jonathan Daviss, who will play Snoop Dogg, and Camron Jones, who will portray Tupac. Lauren London is also part of the film as Beverly Tate, Snoop’s mother.
Director Craig Brewer is leading the project. The film is based on a rewrite of an original script by Joe Robert Cole. It is currently in production in Southern California and will trace Snoop’s journey from his early days in Long Beach to his rise in hip-hop.
Other cast members include actors portraying several major figures from the West Coast rap scene. These include Dr. Dre, Warren G, Suge Knight, Nate Dogg, Kurupt and The Lady of Rage. The story will also draw on Snoop’s extensive music catalogue.
Erivo’s casting brings another important figure from Tupac’s life into the film. Afeni Shakur was a Black Panther activist who later managed her son’s estate. Her story is closely linked to Tupac’s upbringing, music and legacy. Her influence also became widely known through his song “Dear Mama”.
The project has a scheduled theatrical release of August 6, 2027. It is the first film to emerge from the partnership between Snoop’s Death Row Pictures and NBCUniversal. Snoop is producing alongside Brian Grazer, Allan Mandelbaum and Sara Ramaker.
The casting adds another major name to a project built around hip-hop history. It also gives the film an opportunity to explore the people and relationships that shaped the artists at its centre, rather than focusing only on their careers.
