The estate of Tupac Shakur has been trying to get a movie made about his life, however it also seems that Morgan Creek wants the same thing. But it seems they are not playing nice on the playground and now they have called in their lawyers.
The Rick Nicita-topped production house has sued Amaru Entertainment, the company run by Afeni Shakur, the late rapper’s mother and executor, alleging in a Los Angeles Superior Court filing that the company has backed out of an agreement to sell his life rights for a film adaptation.
Negotiations between Morgan Creek and Amaru began in November for life rights that would form the basis of the untitled project.
According to the complaint, a written contract was in place for life rights, with Morgan Creek claiming that Amaru is “refus(ing) to honor and perform a contract of a production of the film based on the life of Tupac Shakur.” The company seeks damages and other relief.
But late Wednesday, Amaru’s lawyers denied the existence of a deal.
This is an important deal that Morgan Creek is trying to arrange. They don’t need her permission to make a movie based on his life. As a public figure his story is public domain. However, if they want to use any of his music in the film they will need a deal. They can’t make a biopic on a music star without his music.
This seems to be a big pile of “he said, she said” while Shakur’s people claiming never to have had a deal which Morgan Creek is suing them for breaking. They want to sue them right back claiming that negotiations with other studios were cut when Morgan Creek scared them off.
Looks to me like its an old fashioned street turf war. Who knows who is right in this scuffle.
Perhaps they should settle this like ganstas and just throw down with some driveby shootings or better yet, they can rap battle for it!
Personally I could live without a Tupac biopic, but eventually it will happen after all this dust settles.
