Docuseries on Tupac Shakur and His Mother Afeni Coming to FX
The mother and son bond between Tupac Shakur and Afeni Shakur will be explored in a new docuseries set to premiere on FX.
According to a report from Deadline published on Tuesday (Aug. 6), the docuseries, titled Outlaw: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur, has been picked up by FX. It will be a five-part drama serial directed by Allen Hughes. The story of ‘Pac and Afeni will be told through the eyes of the people and loved ones who knew them best. The series will also convey their unified message of freedom, equality, persecution, and justice.
Hughes worked closely with the Tupac Shakur estate to complete the project and was granted access to the late rapper’s writings and unreleased music. Hughes also briefly directed Tupac for the rapper's role in 1993's Menace II Society. His brother Albert co-directed the film.
After disagreements about Tupac's role in the film, Tupac was reportedly fired from the cast, and sometime later, attacked Allen on the set of a music video in 1993. Tupac, who later bragged about the assault on an episode of Yo! MTV Raps, was sentenced to 15 days in jail after being found guilty of assault for the fight in 1994. In a 2018 interview with The YouTube Channel Joe, Allen said it took him a while to come to grips with the assault.
“On one level, Tupac was one of the sweetest people I ever met," Hughes said.
He apologized in Vibe magazine [a few] months before he died. I didn’t really come to peace with it until I was done with The Defiant Ones. ”
Hughes' previous docuseries, 2017's The Defiant Ones, was a series that focused on music impresarios Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre and how their careers in the music business intertwined with each other.
In a 2017 interview with XXL, Hughes said he was amazed at how patient Iovine, Dre and their friends were eager to talk to him during the filming process.
"I was surprised because I didn’t know if we get everyone, if they will sit down, how long they’ll sit down," he explained. "Every single one of those individuals — who just happen to be rock stars and the business people who are incredible too — never have I sat down and no one was in a rush."
In addition the Outlaw: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur docuseries, FX also announced that they have renewed Donald Glover's series Atlanta for a fourth season. Production on Season 3 will start next Spring.
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