Tupac Shakur Documentary to Be Directed by Steve McQueen
All eyez remain on 2Pac.
While his All Eyez On Me biopic heads to theaters next month, a fully authorized Tupac Shakur documentary is on its way too. This one will be directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave).
“I am extremely moved and excited to be exploring the life and times of this legendary artist,” said McQueen. “I attended NYU film school in 1993 and can remember the unfolding hip-hop world and mine overlapping with Tupac’s through a mutual friend in a small way. Few, if any shined brighter than Tupac Shakur. I look forward to working closely with his family to tell the unvarnished story of this talented man.”
McQueen is no stranger to hip-hop. In 2015, he teamed up with Kanye West to direct the “All Day” music video, which eventually played at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
The new ‘Pac doc has the stamp of approval from Shakur Estate trustee Tom Whalley. “Tupac’s timeless message resonates today as strongly as it did when I first discovered him in 1990, possibly more so,” said Whalley. “His legacy is unfortunately seen now through the refraction of the headlines, the controversy, and the tragic way his life ended. With this film, we will show the artist and the young man who existed beyond the news. I have an obligation to both Tupac and Afeni Shakur, to make sure this project becomes realized. In the final year of her life, Afeni and I spoke often of her desire to have her son’s true story be told.”
The film will be produced by Nigel Sinclair (The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years) for White Horse Pictures and Jayson Jackson (What Happened, Miss Simone?). “We are very excited to be working with the talents of Steve McQueen, Jayson Jackson and Nigel Sinclair,” added Whalley. “Together, with the team we have assembled, I am honored to have the opportunity to bring the documentary Tupac started in 1996 to life.”
Family will also be involved. Tupac’s aunt Gloria Cox and his sister Sekyiwa will executive produce the film, along with White Horse’s Jeanne Elfant Festa. “I am happy to see this project come to life,” said Cox. “This was something that my nephew (Tupac) was very passionate about creating in 1996, and my sister (Afeni) since before her passing this last May. It has been a long journey to get here. I feel like we have a team she (Afeni) would be very pleased with.
“It has never been our intention to rewrite the story of Tupac,” she added. “Our goal has always been to tell the true story, which has never been done before in such a complete way. My sister always said to me, ‘We are not in the business of defending Tupac. Our job is to allow him to be seen in the most complete way, so his actions, his choices, and his words will allow him to speak for himself.’ I believe this film will do exactly that.”
It’s been an eventful year for the late great icon. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, the Tupac biopic All Eyez On Me opens June 16, on what would have been Tupac’s 46th birthday.