Cynthia Erivo joins Universal’s ‘Snoop’ as Afeni Shakur: the biopic’s cast so far and its Aug. 6, 2027 date
Craig Brewer's film has been shooting in Southern California since mid-September. Here is who plays whom, including Dr. Dre, and what Snoop has said about it.
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What we know
- Cynthia Erivo will play Afeni Shakur, Tupac Shakur's mother, in 'Snoop'; The Hollywood Reporter first reported the casting on Nov. 4, 2026, per Complex; Universal confirmed it that day, per HotNewHipHop.
- Universal Pictures has dated the film for Aug. 6, 2027. Craig Brewer directs.
- Jonathan Daviss ('Outer Banks') plays Snoop Dogg; Camron Jones plays Tupac Shakur, per Complex, TheWrap and The A.V. Club.
- Myles Bullock plays Dr. Dre, Olly Sholotan plays Kurupt, Corey Champagne plays Nate Dogg and Laya DeLeon Hayes plays Shante Broadus, per Variety, Complex and HotNewHipHop.
- Supporting cast per Complex: Lauren London as Beverly Tate, Algee Smith as Warren G, Tre Hale as Suge Knight, SwayvoTwain as The Notorious B.I.G.
- Filming began in mid-September in Southern California, per Complex.
Cynthia Erivo has joined Snoop, Universal Pictures’ Snoop Dogg biopic, as Afeni Shakur, the mother of Tupac Shakur. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the casting on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Complex confirmed the details the same day. Universal confirmed the casting on Nov. 4, HotNewHipHop reported.
The cast so far
| Actor | Role | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Daviss | Snoop Dogg (Calvin Broadus Jr.) | THR, Complex |
| Camron Jones | Tupac Shakur | Complex, TheWrap, The A.V. Club |
| Cynthia Erivo | Afeni Shakur | THR, Complex |
| Lauren London | Beverly Tate (Snoop’s mother) | Complex |
| Algee Smith | Warren G | Complex |
| Tre Hale | Suge Knight | Complex |
| SwayvoTwain | The Notorious B.I.G. | Complex |
| Myles Bullock | Dr. Dre | Variety, Complex, HotNewHipHop |
| Laya DeLeon Hayes | Shante Broadus (Snoop’s wife) | Variety, Complex |
| Olly Sholotan | Kurupt | Variety, Complex, HotNewHipHop |
| Corey Champagne | Nate Dogg | Variety, Complex, HotNewHipHop |
| Jonica Booth | The Lady of Rage | Variety, Complex |
Complex’s cast guide also lists Bentley Green as RBX and G Perico as Big Reecie Cup, which we have not seen elsewhere. Daviss, known for Netflix’s Outer Banks, joined Snoop Dogg on stage at CinemaCon earlier this year to preview the film, The Hollywood Reporter reported in July.
The production
Craig Brewer directs. Universal has set the film for theatrical release on Aug. 6, 2027, per THR and Complex. Filming began in mid-September and is continuing in Southern California, Complex reported. The producers are Snoop Dogg, Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, Allan Mandelbaum and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker, with Michael Beugg and Jeb Brody as executive producers, per TheWrap. Joe Robert Cole wrote the initial draft and Brewer revised the script. THR’s July report described Snoop as the first project under Death Row Pictures’ overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment, and TheWrap reported the film will use Snoop’s catalog music.
Universal called the film the “definitive biopic of the entertainment mogul and icon,” per Variety’s Australian edition.
Who is directing
Brewer’s earlier films include Hustle & Flow (2005), whose song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” won the Oscar for Best Original Song, Dolemite Is My Name (2019) and Coming 2 America (2021), per Wikipedia’s filmography. The A.V. Club noted he recently directed Song Sung Blue.
What Snoop has said
“After my brothers got to tell their story with Straight Outta Compton, now it’s my turn.”
Snoop Dogg at CinemaCon 2026, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter
He also previewed the rating: “My movie is going to be rated R, I guarantee that. So get your parents’ permission,” per THR.
About the role
Afeni Shakur was a Black Panther activist who was arrested in 1969 on a New York bombing conspiracy charge, acquitted in 1971 and later became the arbiter of Tupac’s estate after his death in 1996; she died in 2016 at 69, Complex noted. Erivo, who starred in Wicked and Wicked: For Good and earned an Oscar nomination for the first, next stars in Children of Blood and Bone, due Jan. 15, 2027, per Variety.
What’s next
Production began in mid-September in Southern California, according to Complex. We will update this page as roles are confirmed.
Quick answers
Who plays Afeni Shakur in the Snoop Dogg biopic?
Cynthia Erivo, per The Hollywood Reporter's Nov. 4, 2026 report as relayed by Complex. Universal confirmed the casting that day, per HotNewHipHop.
When is the Snoop Dogg biopic released?
Universal Pictures has dated the film 'Snoop' for Aug. 6, 2027. Craig Brewer directs.
Who plays Snoop Dogg and Tupac in the film?
Jonathan Daviss plays Snoop Dogg and Camron Jones plays Tupac Shakur, per Complex, TheWrap and The A.V. Club.
Who plays Dr. Dre in the Snoop Dogg biopic?
Myles Bullock, per Variety, Complex and HotNewHipHop.
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- Complex (Alex Ocho): 'Cynthia Erivo to Play 2Pac's Mother Afeni Shakur in Upcoming Snoop Dogg Biopic', Nov. 4, 2026 (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
- Complex: 'Snoop' cast explained, Nov. 4, 2026 (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
- TheWrap (Umberto Gonzalez): Cynthia Erivo, Afeni Shakur, Snoop biopic, Nov. 4, 2026 (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
- HotNewHipHop: Cynthia Erivo cast in Snoop biopic, Nov. 4, 2026 (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
- The A.V. Club (Olivia Singh): Cynthia Erivo, Snoop Dogg biopic, Nov. 4, 2026 (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
- Variety (Australia): Snoop biopic casting, Nov. 5, 2026 (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
- The Hollywood Reporter (Ryan Gajewski): 'Snoop Dogg Biopic Lands Summer 2027 Release From Universal', July 21, 2026, read via Yahoo syndication (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
- The Hollywood Reporter: 'Cynthia Erivo to Play Tupac Shakur's Mother in Universal's Snoop Dogg Biopic (Exclusive)', Nov. 4, 2026 (originating report; attribution only) (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Craig Brewer (filmography) (accessed Nov. 8, 2026)
