Casting News for Snoop Dogg Biopic

Universal Pictures' upcoming biopic about Snoop Dogg, titled 'Snoop,' is rounding out its cast with two significant additions. Lauren London is set to portray Beverly Tate, Snoop Dogg's mother, while Camron Jones will play Tupac Shakur, according to multiple reports.

London's casting was first reported by Deadline, while The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of Jones's involvement, as noted by Variety. The film, directed by Craig Brewer, will feature Jonathan Daviss as Snoop Dogg and Myles Bullock as Dr. Dre. Universal has slated the release for August 6, 2027.

The project marks a significant collaboration: producers include Snoop Dogg himself, Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker, and Imagine Entertainment's Brian Grazer and Allan Mandelbaum. The film is described as the first project under Death Row Pictures' overall deal with NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. Ryan Jones and Tony Ducret will oversee the project for the studio.

Brewer directs from his own rewrite of Joe Robert Cole's original script. The film will incorporate music from Snoop Dogg's catalogue, according to reports.

Who's Who in the Cast

London is a Los Angeles native known for roles in 'ATL' and 'Without Remorse,' as well as her activism and entrepreneurial pursuits. Her connection to Snoop Dogg runs deep: she appeared in the rapper's 2004 music video for 'Drop It Like It's Hot' with Pharrell, which topped the Billboard Hot 100. London was also married to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was murdered in 2019.

Camron Jones, best known for his starring role as Bishop in the Amazon Prime series 'Panic,' has also appeared in 'grown-ish,' 'The Purge,' and 'Shameless,' and is set to appear in the upcoming third season of 'P-Valley.' He is represented by Clear Talent Group and Venture Entertainment Partners.

Jonathan Daviss, from the Netflix series 'Outer Banks,' will portray Snoop Dogg, while Myles Bullock takes on the role of Dr. Dre. Brewer, who most recently directed 'Song Sung Blue' for Focus Features, has a track record with music-centric films, including 'Hustle & Flow' and 'Dolemite Is My Name.'

The Real-Life Story Behind the Film

Beverly Tate, also known as Beverly Broadus-Green, played a pivotal role in her son's life and career. A church choir director, she gave Calvin Broadus the nickname 'Snoopy' because he reminded her of the dog from the 'Peanuts' series—a name that would evolve into his stage persona. Tate died in 2021 at age 70, as noted in one report.

The film is expected to explore Snoop Dogg's rise from Long Beach, California, to global stardom, and his close ties to Tupac Shakur. The two were labelmates on Death Row Records in the mid-1990s and collaborated on the track '2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.' They remained close friends until Shakur's death in 1996, though one report notes they had a falling out after Shakur pressed Snoop to take sides in the West Coast-East Coast rivalry.

Snoop Dogg has previously honored Shakur, inducting him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. The biopic arrives at a time when Universal has seen success with musical biopics; the studio's 2015 film 'Straight Outta Compton' grossed more than $200 million and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Looking Ahead

With a release date set for 2027, 'Snoop' is still in early stages. The cast is shaping up to include a mix of established actors and rising stars, and the involvement of Snoop Dogg and Death Row Pictures signals a personal touch to the project. As production moves forward, more details about the film's plot and additional casting are expected to emerge.