Cynthia Erivo has joined Universal Pictures’ upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic, Snoop, taking the role of Afeni Shakur, the activist and mother of rapper Tupac Shakur. The casting adds another major name to a growing ensemble built around Jonathan Daviss, who will portray Snoop Dogg in the film directed by Craig Brewer.
The film is currently scheduled to open in theaters on August 6, 2027. Universal has described Snoop as a biographical drama about the life and career of Snoop Dogg, with music from the rapper’s extensive catalog expected to be part of the production.
Erivo’s casting places Afeni Shakur inside a story centered on one of Tupac’s close musical contemporaries. Camron Jones has been cast as Tupac Shakur, giving the film an opportunity to portray the relationship between key figures in the West Coast hip-hop scene of the 1990s.
Afeni Shakur had a life that extended well beyond her role as Tupac’s mother. She joined the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s and was among the defendants in the Panther 21 case in New York. She faced conspiracy charges, represented herself during the trial and was acquitted in 1971.
Her experiences later became part of the public story surrounding Tupac’s upbringing. His 1995 song “Dear Mama” addressed his relationship with his mother, including the hardship they experienced and her struggles with addiction. After Tupac’s death in 1996, Afeni became closely involved in managing his estate and preserving his work.
Afeni died in 2016 at age 69. Her political activism, family history and role in protecting Tupac’s legacy have made her an important figure in accounts of the rapper’s life.
Erivo brings substantial experience portraying real people. She played abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the 2019 film Harriet, a performance that earned her an Academy Award nomination for best actress. She also portrayed Aretha Franklin in National Geographic’s television anthology Genius: Aretha and received an Emmy nomination for the performance.
More recently, Erivo starred as Elphaba in Wicked and Wicked: For Good. Her role as Afeni Shakur adds another historical figure to a career that has moved between stage, television, film and music.
Snoop will be led by Daviss, known for his work on Outer Banks. Universal announced in 2026 that Brewer would direct the film from his rewrite of an original screenplay by Joe Robert Cole. Brewer’s directing credits include Hustle & Flow, Dolemite Is My Name and Song Sung Blue.
The supporting cast is designed to represent many of the people who were central to Snoop Dogg’s rise. Jones will play Tupac, while Myles Bullock has been cast as Dr. Dre and Algee Smith as Warren G. Tre Hale will portray Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight.
Lauren London is set to play Snoop Dogg’s mother, Beverly Tate, while Laya DeLeon Hayes will portray his wife, Shante Broadus. Other cast members include Olly Sholotan as Kurupt, Corey Champagne as Nate Dogg and Jonica Booth as the Lady of Rage. Recording artist SwayvoTwain, the son of D’Angelo and Angie Stone, has been cast as the Notorious B.I.G.
The large ensemble suggests that the movie will cover a broad period in Snoop Dogg’s early career, although Universal has not released a detailed public plot summary. The rapper emerged from Long Beach, California, and became widely known through his work with Dr. Dre before releasing his debut album Doggystyle in 1993.
Snoop Dogg is also producing the film. Brian Grazer, Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker and Allan Mandelbaum are among the other producers attached to the project.
The movie is the first film under Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment. Universal has said the production will draw from Snoop Dogg’s music catalog, an important element for a film about an artist whose career has stretched across more than three decades.
Erivo’s role also connects the story to Tupac’s family history at a time when the film is assembling actors to portray a wide range of artists and executives from the era. Afeni’s presence could provide historical context for Tupac beyond his performances and public image, depending on how much of her life is included in the final screenplay.
Her casting was reported on November 4, 2026, while the movie remains in production. Entertainment Weekly reported that Erivo had officially joined the project and that Jones would appear opposite her as Tupac.
The project arrives after years of films and television productions revisiting major figures in hip-hop history. Snoop Dogg has appeared as a character in earlier projects, including Straight Outta Compton, but Snoop is designed around his own life and career.
Universal has not yet announced a trailer or a more detailed synopsis. With the August 2027 theatrical date already set, additional footage and story details are expected to emerge as the studio moves closer to release.