Tupac Biopic 'All Eyez on Me' Lands at Lionsgate (Exclusive)

The film will be released June 16, the late rapper's birthday.

All Eyez on Me, the long-gestating biopic of late rapper Tupac Shakur, is finally on its way to theaters.

Lionsgate's Summit Entertainment has acquired U.S. rights to the Morgan Creek Entertainment film that follows the life of the iconic 1990s rapper and has set it for release on June 16, on what would have been Shakur’s 46th birthday.

The pic chronicles his rise to superstardom as a hip-hop artist, actor, poet and activist, as well as his imprisonment and controversial time at Death Row Records. Shakur has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, with his fourth studio album, 1996's All Eyez on Me, selling more than 10 million copies. The rapper, who was killed in Las Vegas at the age of 25, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 7.

Benny Boom directed the film, which stars newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr. as Shakur. Danai Gurira, Kat Graham, Dominic Santana, Jamal Woolard, Keith Robinson, Lauren Cohan and Hill Harper also star. All Eyez on Me was produced by Morgan Creek’s James G. Robinson and David Robinson, along with Program Pictures’ LT Hutton.

The project started out on its long journey back in 2011 when Morgan Creek teamed with Emmett/Furla/Oasis to make the film and hired Antoine Fuqua to direct. Fuqua eventually left the project, with John Singleton signing on. He also later left, and eventually Boom, who has directed a slew of music videos for hip-hop stars, came aboard. Jeremy N. Haft & Eddie Gonzalez and Steven Bagatourian wrote the script.

In October 2015, the film faced another hurdle when Emmett/Furla/Oasis filed a lawsuit $10-million lawsuit against Morgan Creek, saying the company breached its agreement by selecting a lead actor and setting a budget and production schedule without Emmett/Furla/Oasis' approval (the case is ongoing and has been paused pending an appeal of a decision). Open Road was previously signed on to distribute the pic.

The new deal with Lionsgate was negotiated for Morgan Creek by David Robinson and Jessica VanderYacht; David Nochimson of Ziffren Brittenham; and Glen Mastroberte of Latham & Watkins. For Lionsgate, the deal was negotiated by Jason Constantine, Eda Kowan, John Biondo and Elizabeth Hopkins.