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Artist News Legal
Tupac biopic makers overcome legal blockage
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 18 February 2011
The long-in-development Tupac Shakur biopic is back on track after film studio Morgan Creek settled legal issues with the rapper’s mother, Afeni Shakur-Davis.
In February 2009, Morgan Creek sued Shakur-Davis’ company Amaru Entertainment, claiming it had an agreement in place for the rights to make the film of Shakur’s life, but that Shakur-Davis was using that contract “as a floor to pursue further negotiations”. She countersued, saying that there was no binding agreement and that the lawsuit was having a negative impact on her negotiations with other studios.
A trial had been due to begin on Tuesday. However, both sides reportedly agreed a deal last week. Shakur-Davis reportedly met with director Antoine Fuqua and decided she approved with his vision for the film. She will also take an undisclosed fee, a portion of profits and be given an executive producer credit on the movie. It’s also said that she was swayed because Morgan Creek is one of very few companies willing to agree to her demands for a high level of control over how her son is portrayed.
Amaru and Shakir-Davis’ lawyer Skip Miller told the Hollywood Reporter: “This is certainly a better result for everyone involved”.
Filming is now due to begin this spring.
