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Antoine Fuqua Departs Tupac Biopic to Direct Eminem in 'Southpaw'
by Ethan Anderton
June 6, 2011
Source: 24 Frames
Just over a year ago we heard director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Shooter, Brooklyn's Finest) was set to helm a biopic about the late rapper Tupac Shakur. That project was supposed to begin production last September, but for some reason still hasn't gotten off the ground. Now 24 Frames reports that although Fuqua was still slated to direct the film as of last month, apparently he has since stepped away from the project and has moved onto another one with a living hip-hop artist. Apparently the director is now circling Southpaw, a new boxing drama which already has Marshall Mathers, or rather Eminem, attached to star.
For those just joining us at this point, the project will have Eminem playing a fast-rising welterweight boxer who brawls his way to the title, only to see his world crash down around him due to tragedy; he must fight to win back his life for his young daughter. Previously, writer Kurt Stutter (the creator/executive producer of "Sons of Anarchy") said: "In a way, this is a continuation of the 8 Mile story, but rather than a literal biography, we are doing a metaphorical narrative of the second chapter of his life." And knowing that the personal nature of the story in that 2002 hip-hop based film helped bring out a great performance from Eminem, I'm anxious to see what the rapper can do in yet another personal but dramatic lead role like this.
It's not clear what caused Fuqua to leave the Tupac biopic, but this probably doesn't bode well for the production. After all, the project was being developed with Shakur's mother Afeni, and the director was said to be an essential creative element that helped convince her to allow the film at all. However, no deal is in place for Southpaw yet, so there's a chance that Fuqua could still end up taking the reins of that Tupac biopic. In addition, Fuqua has also been linked to projects like Afterburn with Gerard Butler and another biopic on legendary Tang Dynasty imperial concubine Yang Guifei so anything could happen. Thoughts?
7 Comments
1
Well SOA is fun, pulpy stuff which is probably a good fit for Fuqua.
Lebowski on Jun 7, 2011
2
As long as Fuqua moves away form the dirty cop genre... I'm game.
duane on Jun 7, 2011
3
"Kurt Stutter"? Jesus. The articles written on this site recently are FULL of spelling and grammatical errors. Do you not proof-read before posting?
Johnholmes72 on Jun 8, 2011
4
This is bullshit! He passed up a Tupac biopic in order to take up some petty eminem film?! If he's not going to direct the film, then who is? 🙁 what about all of the Tupac fans that were looking foward to seeing this movie? I guess no one stopped to think about that huh? This biopic would've meant so much to Tupac fans all over the world! I sincerely hope that this movie is still in the works because I love Tupac with all my heart and nothing would make me happier than to see his life being remembered on the silver screen. Come on antoine, do the right thing. Please, do this for Tupac's friends, family, and fans.
Taylortolbert23 on Jun 9, 2011
5
All Eyez On Me!!! @2pac BACK! The Official Gmix http://youtu.be/Za-rl3cSu88 "Tupac" BioPic http://youtu.be/PYpgJ25d6H0
J.Louie Aka Young Makaveli on Jun 21, 2011
6
With all due respect to you! We are a Hollywood movie enthusiasts. From childhood we are eating more than you liked watching movies. Today the film's material is too small. We shocked the world, has a SF movie scenario. As a famous SF movies avatar, Star Wars, ET, Close Encounters, transformers, is I think a better scenario. Over the next 50 years than this movie seems like there should be a great movie. Until we mean making another film. We would like to participate in making movies. Looking at film, there are hidden gems. We think there are hidden gems. Directors such as Steven Spielberg, we are confident will be. Finally, I promise you all rush to the existing SF films will dominate. Good luck to everyone reading this I hope. kimskyload@naver.com kbd3@naver.com
Kimskyload on Jul 1, 2011
7
Antoine can tell any of these stories well.
Chris Lopez on Dec 9, 2012
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