According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emmett Furla Oasis is seeking $10 million in damages from Morgan Creek Productions for reportedly exceeding the agreed upon budget and casting a lead without proper consultation for the developing biopic of rapper Tupac Shakur.
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According to Emmett/Furla, the agreement signed with Morgan Creek stated that production budget was not to exceed $30 million, both would agree on production schedule and sole approval for Emmett/Furla of the director (Carl Franklin replaced John Singleton) and actor who would portray Shakur.
The situation took a turn for the worse after the success of this summer’s Straight Outta Compton, which depicts Pac briefly and in reference to N.W.A. Emmett/Furla claim that shortly thereafter, Morgan Creek required they prove they were able to pay their half of the film’s budget, which would exceed $34 Million. Emmett/Furla refused after citing a violation of their initial agreement.
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“Their responsibility was to come in with half the budget,” Morgan Creek Executive Vice President of marketing and publicity Greg Mielcarz told THR. “That didn’t happen. End of story.” Mielcarz denied that a lead actor had been cast, saying, “It’s sad that they are resorting to these kinds of tactics.”
The film is currently in preproduction, slated to start official production in early December.