Cynthia Erivo is stepping into another significant role, this time portraying Black Panther activist Afeni Shakur in Universal Pictures' upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic, Snoop.
The Oscar-nominated actress joins Jonathan Daviss, best known for Netflix's Outer Banks, who will portray the legendary West Coast rapper. Production is currently underway in Southern California.
Erivo's casting brings one of hip-hop's most influential mothers into a film centered on Snoop Dogg's rise to fame.
Who Was Afeni Shakur?
Afeni Shakur was far more than the mother of Tupac Shakur. A member of the Black Panther Party, she was among the defendants in the Panther 21 case, a high-profile prosecution of activists in New York during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Pregnant with Tupac while facing trial, Shakur represented herself in court and was acquitted in 1971, shortly before her son's birth.
Her political activism and experiences with the criminal justice system would become part of the cultural and political foundation that influenced Tupac's music.
Following his death in 1996, she worked to preserve his legacy through the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation and other initiatives.
Cynthia Erivo Joins Jonathan Daviss in 'Snoop'
For Erivo, whose performances in Harriet and Wicked demonstrated her ability to portray complex women, the role offers another opportunity to bring a significant Black historical figure to the screen.
The connection between Afeni Shakur and Snoop Dogg also reflects a pivotal period in hip-hop history. Snoop and Tupac were both associated with Death Row Records during the 1990s, when West Coast rap was reshaping American popular culture.
The film is expected to explore Snoop's life and career, although the extent of Afeni Shakur's role in the narrative has not yet been detailed.
Universal Pictures has not announced a theatrical release date.
Erivo's casting adds another layer of historical significance to a biopic already drawing attention for its portrayal of one of hip-hop's most recognizable figures.
