"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" actor Forest Whitaker is in talks to co-star with "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp in the Open Road crime thriller "LAbyrinth." The upcoming film revolves around the unsolved murders of rapper Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.
According to Deadline, Whitaker will play the journalist Jack Jackson in "LAbyrinth." Depp plays a disgraced Los Angeles Police Department detective Russell Poole who is unable to solve his biggest case: the murders of the hip-hop icons. They team up, each determined to find the truth, and each with a reason to seek redemption in an effort that sets them against the cops.
In the plot of "Labyrinth," the case of Shakur and B.I.G. remains open after two decades, Variety reported. Jackson is desperate to save his reputation and career, so he tracks down Poole. The two enter into an uneasy partnership to finally put this case to rest and threaten to crack the foundation of the LAPD while fighting for their own redemption.
The screenplay of "LAbyrinth" is written by Christian Contreras and started as a Black List script. It is adapted from Randall Sullivan's book "Labyrinth: A Detective Investigates the Murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., the Implication of Death Row Records' Suge Knight, and the Origins of the Los Angeles Police Scandal."
"LAbyrinth" is produced by Miriam Segal and her Good Films with Brad Furman directing. Miramax is partnering and co-financing with Open Road Films for U.S. distribution. Good Universe is handling international sales.
Whitaker is represented by WME and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. He has a busy fall schedule ahead of him with Paramount's "Arrival," directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. He will also play Bishop Desmond Tutu in the biopic "The Forgiven."
Whitaker also stars in "Star Wars: Rogue One," opening in this month. He recently joined the cast of Marvel's "Black Panther," directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong'o. He just finished starring with Garrett Hedlund and Tom Wilkinson in the KKK true story drama "Burden."
The production of "LAbyrinth" is set to start in mid-November.
Watch the video of Forest Whitaker may join Biggie and Tupac murder drama:
