A new biopic about Tupac Shakur named after the rapper’s 1996 double album “All Eyez on Me” has cast its central role. Demetrius Shipp Jr., an inexperienced actor who resembles the ’90s hip-hop great, will play Shakur, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in September 1996.

Greg Mielcarz, a spokesman for the film studio Morgan Creek, confirmed the casting, which was broken by TMZ. Mr. Shipp has also been blasting out the news on social media, posting pictures on his Instagram of himself in character, including a snapshot with Jamal Woolard, who played Christopher Wallace (a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G.) in the 2009 biopic “Notorious.” Mr. Woolard will reprise the role in the new film.

The music video director Benny Boom will helm “All Eyez on Me,” which had been hamstrung by production problems. Multiple directors were involved with the film before Mr. Boom, including John Singleton, the director of “Boyz N The Hood” and “Poetic Justice” (which starred Shakur); and Antoine Fuqua, who directed “Training Day” and “Southpaw.” Mr. Boom’s previous film credits include the 2009 comedy “Next Day Air.”