Cynthia Erivo has officially joined the cast of Universal Pictures’ upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic, Snoop, to portray the iconic activist Afeni Shakur.
The Oscar-nominated and Tony Award-winning actress will step into the role of the prominent Black Panther Party member and mother of rap legend Tupac Shakur. Given Afeni’s profound impact on her son’s life and music—most famously immortalized in his 1995 masterpiece “Dear Mama”—the role demands a performer of immense emotional depth, making Erivo’s casting a major win for the production.
Directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) and written by Joe Robert Cole (Black Panther), the film is currently in production in Southern California with a scheduled theatrical release date of August 6, 2027. Erivo joins a highly anticipated ensemble that includes Jonathan Daviss as Snoop Dogg, Camron Jones as Tupac Shakur, and Myles Bullock as Dr. Dre. The biopic is being produced directly by Snoop Dogg himself alongside Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, ensuring an authentic look at the West Coast hip-hop boom of the 1990s.
This high-profile casting continues a massive run for Erivo, who recently captivated global audiences as Elphaba in Universal’s Wicked film adaptations. Transitioning from the fantasy world of Oz to the gritty, grounded reality of the 90s rap scene highlights her incredible versatility as a dramatic actress. Her portrayal of Afeni Shakur is expected to serve as a vital emotional anchor in the film, exploring the intersection of family, civil rights activism, and hip-hop history.