B.I.G shoes to fill: Searchlight finds their Tupac, Sean Combs & Notorious

After the extensive search for the face that would play the school of hard knocks rapper (obviously the teddy bear from American Idol and the SNL comedian didn’t stand a chance) Fox Searchlight Pictures have given the role to non-actor named Jamal Woolard (see headshot pictured above). He’ll be learning acting 101 among actors Derek Luke taking on Puffy, Anthony Mackie playing one time friend and then foe Tupac Shakur and Angela Bassett  plays mama bear – “Christopher’s mother” Voletta Wallace.

Notorious B.I.G. is written by Cheo Hodari Coker, and is obviously based on the life and
times of late rapper the Notorious B.I.G., the hip-hop artist, also known as
Biggie Smalls but whose real name was Christopher Wallace. A major figure in
the East Coast hip-hop scene before being gunned down at the age of 24 at a Vibe
magazine after-party outside L.A.’s Peterson Automotive Museum in March, 1997.
Eight years later, no one has been charged in the murder. His music was heavily
influenced by his experience growing up on the streets of Brooklyn, where drugs
and violence often dominated.

Production begins on the 24th of the month.