Fox Searchlight Pictures held casting calls for the role of Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls for a biopic titled Notorious. The part was eventually cast with rapper Jamal "Gravy" Woolard. Derek Luke will play Biggie's friend Sean "Diddy" Combs and Angela Basset his mother, Voletta Wallace.
Fast Facts:
- Director: George Tillman Jr.
- Writers: Reggie Rock Bythewood Cheo Hodari Coker
- Release Date: January 16, 2009
- Notorious B.I.G.: Jamal Woolard
- Lil Kim: Naturi Naughton
- Suge Knight: Sean Ringgold
- Tupac Shakur: Anthony Mackie
Synopsis
The Notorious B.I.G. biopic is set to release in early 2009. The film was directed by George Tillman Jr., but originally the film was suppose to be directed by Antoine Fuqua, the director of the 2001 film, Training Day. Notorious has begun shooting, and stars Jamal Woolard as Notorious B.I.G., Naturi Naughton as Lil Kim, and Angela Bassett as Voletta Wallace.
Quotes
"It's been announced that Brooklyn rapper Jamal Woolard (a.k.a. Gravy) will play Notorious B.I.G. in the forthcoming Fox Searchlight biopic Notorious. Woolard, a non-actor, is probably best known as the guy who got shot in the ass near radio station Hot 97 in 2006 but went upstairs and gave an interview on the Funkmaster Flex show anyway.."— New York Magazine
