Dream Cast: 2Pac Biopic

We pull together an A-list cast for the upcoming film.

Tupac Shakur in Higher Learning - After earning rave reviews for his performance in Poetic Justice, Shakur was ready to tackle the role of a Black college student on a track scholarship in John Singleton's Higher Learning. Unfortunately, he was sentenced to jail before shooting began and had to be replaced by his Juice co-star Omar Epps.(Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Dream Cast: 2Pac Biopic - Producers announced recently that filming for the long-awaited biopic on Tupac Shakur will begin next year. There's only one problem — the film has no cast. No worries, we got this covered. Here's our dream cast for the 2Pac biopic.  (Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Michael B. Jordan or Mehcad Brooks as Tupac Shakur - To play the title role of the sensitive provocateur, recognized as one of the greatest rappers of his generation before his untimely death at age 25, we nominate either Fruitvale Station star Jordan or Necessary Roughness actor Brooks. The latter bears a closer physical resemblace to the late great rapper, but Jordan's acting chops — and industry buzz — are unparalleled. (Photos from left: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

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Michael B. Jordan or Mehcad Brooks as Tupac Shakur - To play the title role of the sensitive provocateur, recognized as one of the greatest rappers of his generation before his untimely death at age 25, we nominate either Fruitvale Station star Jordan or Necessary Roughness actor Brooks. The latter bears a closer physical resemblace to the late great rapper, but Jordan's acting chops — and industry buzz — are unparalleled. (Photos from left: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images, Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

Viola Davis as Afeni Shakur - Tupac's mother was his idol. A former Black Panther turned lawyer, activist and business woman, Afeni is as smart and savvy as she is tough. Any actress would love to play this part, but we'd go with two-time Oscar nominee Davis. (Photos from left: Billy Kirk/WENN, Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

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Viola Davis as Afeni Shakur - Tupac's mother was his idol. A former Black Panther turned lawyer, activist and business woman, Afeni is as smart and savvy as she is tough. Any actress would love to play this part, but we'd go with two-time Oscar nominee Davis. (Photos from left: Billy Kirk/WENN, Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Idris Elba: September 6 - England's hottest export and Luther star turns 41 this year.(Photo: WENN.com)

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Idris Elba as Billy Garland - Garland, Tupac's biological father, was one of the most important male figures in the young rapper's life, even though they didn't meet until Pac was 23. To play the role of the Black Panther, who was finally able to bond with his son just months before he died, we pick Idris Elba. The Luther star has both the stature and the gravitas to be the man who defined Pac's future without even being there.  (Photo: WENN.com)

Lil' Mama as Jada Pinkett - This pint-sized rapper was so good at channeling Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in the recent biopic of TLC, we think she would kill it as Tupac's high school bestie Jada Pinkett Smith. The pair, while never romantically involved, were as close as two could be after meeting at Baltimore's School for the Arts. (Photos from left: GERARDO SOMOZA/Landov, Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Lil' Mama as Jada Pinkett - This pint-sized rapper was so good at channeling Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in the recent biopic of TLC, we think she would kill it as Tupac's high school bestie Jada Pinkett Smith. The pair, while never romantically involved, were as close as two could be after meeting at Baltimore's School for the Arts. (Photos from left: GERARDO SOMOZA/Landov, Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Naya Rivera as Kidada Jones - Scratch beneath the tough surface, and Tupac was an artist, a poet and foremost a romantic. Kidada Jones, daughter of Quincy and sister of Rashida, was engaged to Pac at the time of his death. To play the love of his life, we like Naya Rivera, a biracial beauty who is as beautiful as she is talented. (Photos from left: Michael Buckner/Getty Images, Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Naya Rivera as Kidada Jones - Scratch beneath the tough surface, and Tupac was an artist, a poet and foremost a romantic. Kidada Jones, daughter of Quincy and sister of Rashida, was engaged to Pac at the time of his death. To play the love of his life, we like Naya Rivera, a biracial beauty who is as beautiful as she is talented. (Photos from left: Michael Buckner/Getty Images, Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Elijah Kelley as Diddy - To play the younger version of the head of Death Row's cross country rival Bad Boy Entertainment, we suggest Elijah Kelley. The actor has been on the grind for years, starring in films like Red Tails and, most recently, The Butler.  (Photos from left: Diane Freed via Getty Images, Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

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Elijah Kelley as Diddy - To play the younger version of the head of Death Row's cross country rival Bad Boy Entertainment, we suggest Elijah Kelley. The actor has been on the grind for years, starring in films like Red Tails and, most recently, The Butler.  (Photos from left: Diane Freed via Getty Images, Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Quinton Aaron as Notorious B.I.G. - One of the most difficult roles to cast is that of Tupac's East Coast counterpart Biggie Smalls. While Anthony Anderson and Kenan Thompson surely come up in every casting meeting, we'd opt for Aaron, the star of the 2009 hit The Blind Side. Not only does Aaron have the physical attributes, he also bears the sensitivity of the murdered rap icon. (Photos from left: Gregory Jackson / Retna Ltd., Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Quinton Aaron as Notorious B.I.G. - One of the most difficult roles to cast is that of Tupac's East Coast counterpart Biggie Smalls. While Anthony Anderson and Kenan Thompson surely come up in every casting meeting, we'd opt for Aaron, the star of the 2009 hit The Blind Side. Not only does Aaron have the physical attributes, he also bears the sensitivity of the murdered rap icon. (Photos from left: Gregory Jackson / Retna Ltd., Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Tristan Wilds as Snoop Dogg - It would be impossible to find an actor who could truly copy Uncle Snoop's signature drawl, the corn rows and the long, lean physique, but with his well-honed acting chops, we think The Wire's Tristan Wilds could be pretty convincing as young Snoop. (Photos from left: Brenda Chase/Online USA inc., Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

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Tristan Wilds as Snoop Dogg - It would be impossible to find an actor who could truly copy Uncle Snoop's signature drawl, the corn rows and the long, lean physique, but with his well-honed acting chops, we think The Wire's Tristan Wilds could be pretty convincing as young Snoop. (Photos from left: Brenda Chase/Online USA inc., Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

Kyle Massey as Dr. Dre - Dre and Pac worked together on some of the rapper's most classic hits, including the West Coast anthem "California Love." Dre always preferred to keep a lower profile than the artists he worked with and mentored, so we like That's So Raven star Massey. True, Massey has lived a very different life than Dre, but you gotta admit the resemblance — especially those cheekbones! — is striking. (Photos from left: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Araya Diaz/Getty Images)

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Kyle Massey as Dr. Dre - Dre and Pac worked together on some of the rapper's most classic hits, including the West Coast anthem "California Love." Dre always preferred to keep a lower profile than the artists he worked with and mentored, so we like That's So Raven star Massey. True, Massey has lived a very different life than Dre, but you gotta admit the resemblance — especially those cheekbones! — is striking. (Photos from left: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Araya Diaz/Getty Images)

Anthony Anderson as Suge Knight - Anderson is usually close to the top of people's lists for actors who can play Biggie (his stature alone gives him an advantage), but we see him more as Death Row co-founder Suge Knight. The sitcom actor would certainly have to channel his dark side to play the part. (Photos from left: Walik Goshorn / Retna Ltd., Ben Horton/Getty Images)

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Anthony Anderson as Suge Knight - Anderson is usually close to the top of people's lists for actors who can play Biggie (his stature alone gives him an advantage), but we see him more as Death Row co-founder Suge Knight. The sitcom actor would certainly have to channel his dark side to play the part. (Photos from left: Walik Goshorn / Retna Ltd., Ben Horton/Getty Images)