British-Nigerian actress Cynthia Erivo has landed a major role in Universal Pictures’ upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic, portraying Afeni Shakur, the mother of late American rapper Tupac Shakur.
The casting, announced on Thursday, places the award-winning actress in a film exploring the life of Snoop Dogg, with production already underway in southern California. The movie is scheduled for release on August 6, 2027.
Afeni Shakur, a former Black Panther activist, was a significant figure in Tupac’s life and legacy. Her experiences and relationship with her son were immortalised in his hit song, “Dear Mama”.
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Erivo’s casting comes after a remarkable period in her career, which has included portraying Elphaba in the two Wicked films alongside Ariana Grande. The pair received Golden Globe nominations for their performances.
The actress has also starred in a one-woman production of Dracula in London’s West End and is set to lead the film adaptation of the courtroom drama Prima Facie. In May, she was awarded an MBE for her contributions to music and drama.
Born on January 8, 1987, in Stockwell, south London, to Nigerian Igbo immigrant parents, Erivo was raised by her mother, Edith, a nurse.
Her Nigerian heritage has remained an important part of her identity. Her lengthy Igbo name begins with Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu, while her mother’s experiences during the Nigerian Civil War have also influenced her artistic work.
Erivo attended La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ School before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she developed her acting skills.
The actress has also spoken openly about her sexuality, identifying as bisexual in an interview with British Vogue. She previously told the Press Association that she was “really proud I came out the way I did”.
Her personal life has also attracted public attention, particularly her close friendship with Grande during the promotion of Wicked.
Speaking to The Guardian while promoting Prima Facie, Erivo criticised the scrutiny surrounding their relationship, saying some people had become “psychologists from their couches” by analysing their friendship.
She questioned why the public appeared uncomfortable with the bond between two women, noting that their emotional expressions during interviews were also subjected to intense criticism.
Erivo also addressed an incident at the Singapore premiere of Wicked: For Good, where a fan rushed Grande on the red carpet. She said she immediately demanded that the man be removed after observing that others had failed to intervene.
The fan was subsequently sentenced to nine days in prison for public nuisance.
Erivo expressed discomfort with social media users portraying her as Grande’s “bodyguard”, linking the narrative to misogyny and misogynoir.
Her new role as Afeni Shakur presents another opportunity for the actress to explore a powerful female figure whose life extended beyond her association with a famous son.
However, the extent to which Afeni’s activism, personal struggles and influence on Tupac will feature in the biopic remains uncertain, as the screenplay has not been made public.
The film’s production team and Erivo have yet to publicly discuss the casting in detail.
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