Notorious B.I.G. To Grace The Big Screen With Help From Diddy
Published: Friday - April 1, 2005
Words by Jay Casteel
Notorious B.I.G. (Photo: Bad Boy)
With the legendary status Notorious B.I.G. holds in hip-hop, it's only right for his popularity to transition over to the big screen. In a joint venture between the rapper's mother, P. Diddy and "Training Day" director Antoine Fuqua, this is already in the works.
According to MTV, the still-untitled project will not be a documentary, like "Tupac: Resurrection" was. The project is already being discussed with several studios, including MTV Films.
So far, P. Diddy has signed on to aid in aid the production creatively, while Wayne Barrow (still handling B.I.G.'s affairs, and manages his mother, Voletta Wallace) and Mark Pitts have recruited famed writer Cheo Hodari Coker to write the screenplay.
The film is said to focus on different aspects of Biggie's life, including B.I.G. the man, son and father. The script is expected to be finished by summertime.
Casting for the roles of associates and friends of B.I.G. include Lil' Kim, Faith Evans, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Puffy. But, those will depend on the size of their roles, said Barrow, and the artists may play themselves. The main task of the film will be to find an actor to fill the starring role, portraying B.I.G.
"It's going to be challenging to cast a B.I.G.," Barrow said to MTV. "We've thrown a few names around, like Big O [actor Waverly W. Alford II] from '8 Mile.' Maybe Anthony Anderson ... because he has the humor. A few people said Guerilla Black, but we don't know how that's going to play out."
According to MTV, the film may start filming as early as February 2006.
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