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USA Network Pilot <i>UNSOLVED: THE MURDERS OF BIGGIE AND TUPAC (wt) Cast Title Roles

UPDATED: Fri 5/12/17 – USA announces series pick-up

 

In a press release:

USA NETWORK ANNOUNCES SERIES PICKUP FOR ‘UNSOLVED: THE MURDERS OF TUPAC AND THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.’

 

From Universal Cable Productions, the Anthology Series Depicts the Tragic Murders of Hip-Hop’s Most Iconic Rappers and the Investigations that Followed Series Stars Josh Duhamel, Jimmi Simpson, Bokeem Woodbine and Newcomers Wavyy Jonez and Marcc Rose

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA — May 11, 2017 — USA Network today announced a pickup for the anthology series UNSOLVED: THE MURDERS OF TUPAC AND THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. The true crime series, from Universal Cable Productions, will chronicle the dual police investigations into the controversial murders of two of the rap industry’s most legendary players, Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.). The series is expected to air in the first quarter of 2018.

The network also revealed new casting for the series with Jamie McShane (“Bloodline”) taking on the role of Detective Fred Miller, the partner of lead investigator Russell Poole in the 1997 open case. Brent Sexton (“The Killing”) will portray Detective Brian Tyndall, a robbery homicide detective who worked with Poole in 1997 and Greg Kading in the 2006 reopening of the investigation.

McShane and Sexton join previously announced cast, which includes newcomer Wavyy Jonez as Christopher Wallace (aka The Notorious B.I.G.), Marcc Rose as Tupac Shakur, Josh Duhamel as Detective Greg Kading, Jimmi Simpson as Detective Russell Poole and Bokeem Woodbine as Officer Daryn Dupree. Additional cast members include Luke James as Sean “Puffy” Combs, Aisha Hinds as Voletta Wallace, the mother of Biggie Smalls, and Letoya Luckett as Sharitha Golden, the estranged wife of Suge Knight.

Kyle Long (SUITS) will serve as the executive producer, creator, and writer on the series. Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Anthony Hemingway (“The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”) directed the pilot episode and will serve as executive producer alongside Mark Taylor through their Hemingway | Taylor production company. Former LAPD Detective Greg Kading will also serve as co-executive producer. Kading authored the book “Murder Rap: The Untold Story of the Biggie Smalls & Tupac Shakur Murder Investigations,” and consulted on the pilot script with Long.

 

 

———-Original Post March 8, 2017———-

In a press release:

 

USA NETWORK PILOT ‘UNSOLVED: THE MURDERS OF BIGGIE AND TUPAC (WT)’ CAST THE ROLES OF TUPAC SHAKUR AND CHRISTOPHER WALLACE AKA BIGGIE SMALLS

Pilot from Universal Cable Productions taps Marcc Rose (“Straight Outta Compton”) and Newcomer Wavyy Jonez to Portray the Iconic Rappers

 

UNSOLVED — Season:Pilot — Pictured: Tupac Shakur — (Photo by: The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

(March 6, 2017) — From Universal Cable Productions (UCP), UNSOLVED: THE MURDERS OF BIGGIE AND TUPAC (WT) is a scripted true crime serial that chronicles the two major police investigations into the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. Emmy winner Anthony Hemingway (“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”) is set to direct and will executive produce along with Mark Taylor through their Hemingway | Taylor production company. The drama is based on the experiences of former LAPD Detective Greg Kading, who is consulting on the pilot script and will also serve as co-executive producer. Kading led multiple law-enforcement task forces investigating the murders and authored the book “Murder Rap: The Untold Story of Biggie Smalls & Tupac Shakur Murder Investigations.” Kyle Long (SUITS) is writing the pilot and will also executive produce.

Marcc Rose will play Tupac Shakur. A poet, actor and legendary rapper, Shakur was as brilliant as he was self-destructive. He was shot and killed in Las Vegas in 1996, and his murder still remains unsolved today.

Rose is a true discovery, making his acting debut as the iconic rapper Tupac in Universal feature“Straight Outta Compton,” directed by F. Gary Gray. The 24-year-old hails from Brooklyn, NY. He is repped by ICM Partners.

 

UNSOLVED — Season:Pilot — Pictured: Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace — (Photo by: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

In his first acting role, Wavyy Jonez is set to play Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Wallace quickly went from honor student to small-time drug dealer to the face of East Coast rap. Wallace was shot and killed in Los Angeles just six months after his one-time friend Tupac Shakur. His murder also remains unsolved today.

Newcomer Jonez was discovered during a nationwide open casting call to fill the role of Biggie Smalls. Of the hundreds of hopefuls that submitted, Jonez’s video audition captured the attention of casting directors and Emmy Award®-winning director Anthony Hemingway. A rapper with a metaphorical style reminiscent of New York artists of the 1990s, Jonez has released his first mixtape, entitled “R.E.D. D.O.P.E.” (Real Everyday Drama Doing Over People’s Expectation). Jonez is repped by Yasmine Pearl at First Access Entertainment.

Rose and Jonez join previously announced cast Josh Duhamel as Detective Greg Kading, Jimmi Simpson as Detective Russell Poole and Bokeem Woodbine as Officer Daryn Dupree.

 

Source: ©2017 USA Network. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.