Tupac Shakur biopic casts lead actor

The long-in-development Tupac Shakur biopic "All Eyez on Me" has finally kicked off production with a lead actor in place.

Newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr. has been tapped to play the rap legend in the film, reports tmz.com.

Producer L.T. Hutton chose Shipp as the lead actor because he appears to have a close physical resemblance to Shakur.

No official announcement was made, but Shipp has confirmed the casting news by posting some photos and videos from the set of the movie.

In one of the photographs, Shipp is seen wearing a caramel long coat atop a grey shirt with a black beanie hat.

He is also seen talking to his co-star Jamal Woolard, who plays Shakur's former friend turned rival, rapper Christopher Wallace a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls.

"All Eyez on Me" will cover the rise and fall of Shakur from his wild success as a rapper to his tragic murder in Las Vegas in 1996.

Famous music video director Benny Boom is helming the movie, which is currently filming in Atlanta.

There is no official release date just yet, but the biopic is expected to release in US in 2017.