Cynthia Erivo to Play Tupac Shakur’s Mother in Universal’s Snoop Dogg Biopic (Exclusive)

Cynthia Erivo has joined the cast of Snoop, Universal Pictures’ biopic of entertainment mogul and music icon Snoop Dogg.

The Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner, who is also a three-time Oscar nominee, boards a call sheet that includes Jonathan Daviss, Myles Bullock Be, Lauren London, Camron Jones, Algee Smith, Tre Hale, Laya DeLeon Hayes, Olly Sholotan, Corey Champagne, Jonica Booth and SwayvoTwain in the feature that is currently in production in southern California.

Craig Brewer is directing the feature, which is being produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, the veteran producer behind the semi-autobiographical Eminem drama 8 Mile, and the company’s Allan Mandelbaum. Snoop Dogg and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker are also producing.

Daviss, one of the stars of Netflix series Outer Banks, is portraying Snoop Dogg, who emerged from Long Beach, Calif. in the 1990s to become one of the biggest names in rap.

Jones, best known for his work on Amazon Prime’s young adult drama Panic, is inhabiting the role of influential but troubled rapper Tupac Shakur.

In a key role, Erivo will play Shakur’s mother, Afeni Shakur, a former Black Panther activist who had a strained relationship with her son and the subject his top 10 hit “Dear Mama.”

Brewer, who recently directed Song Sung Blue for Universal’s specialty studio Focus Features, wrote the latest draft of the script, which was initially written by Joe Robert Cole. The feature will incorporate music from Snoop Dogg’s vast catalog.

Erivo is a known quantity at Universal, having starred in the studio’s massively successful two-part Wicked movies. Her performance as Elphaba in the first movie earned her Golden Globe, SAG, Critics’ Choice, NAACP, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations.

Next, the actress stars in the film adaptation of the Broadway sensation Prima Facie, which she also executive produced under her Edith’s Daughter banner. The film recently premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in UK and Ireland cinemas on Nov. 13.

She is also one of the stars of Paramount’s Children of Blood and Bone, which features an ensemble cast that includes Viola Davis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Regina King, and Lashana Lynch. The YA fantasy movie opens in theaters on Jan. 15, 2027

Erivo is repped by UTA, Entertainment 360, and Peikoff Mahan.