After a nationwide search, it looks like Jamal Woolard (also known by his rap name Gravy) has landed the lead in the biopic Notorious, based on the life of rapper Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace, who was gunned down in 1997.
The movie also stars Angela Bassett, who will play Biggie’s mom, Voletta Wallace; Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur; and Derek Luke as Sean “Diddy” Combs. George Tillman Jr. will direct the film, which begins shooting March 24 in New York City.
Make sure you peep the other side-by-side photos of the stars of the movie after the cut…
VOLETTA WALLACE PLAYED BY ANGELA BASSETT
DIDDY PLAYED BY DEREK LUKE
TUPAC PLAYED BY ANTHONY MACKIE
I actually think all these actors can pull off their respective roles, but I don’t know how that Gravy dude raps or acts so I can’t speak for him. I guess we will have to wait and see. How do you feel about the casting choices?
I think they did a good job in casting.
Only time will tell though. This should certainly be interesting.
I have to google this Gravy character.
THE CAST IS GREAT I JUST HOPE THEY DIRECTOR DOES THE DAMN THING
The choices are great EXCEPT the pivotal role of B.I.G. I’m like Angel, I don’t know enough about homeboy plus I think theother rap dude resembled Biggie more.
Uhhh not to sure about the guy playing biggie. Would have been nice if they actually found an actor. But we’ll see. The rest will probably do a good job, Angela will be GREAT!
@ 4. I would think the rapping would be more important in this film (that’s just my opinion). We all know Biggie had that swagger. So if you get that down, than you can probably get your act on too. I hope he does his thing, because I wanna see the movie.
angela is 2 pretty 2 play violetta big ugly ass
and that man looks nothing like b.i.g
i smell this movie is gonna be horrible
p.s.
B.I.G was not all that and couldn’t rap 2 me
This is really good casting, can’t wait to see the movie!
WTF????? Why isn’t Diddy playing “Diddy”? Also, why is the great Angela Bassett playing his mother???? This is suppose to be realistic right so……………..Who is playing lil Kim, BEYONCE or something???? Get the fuck out of here! lol
In addition: There is nothing wrong with Angela playing an older woman because her acting skills will sine. However, I wish she obtains more opportunities to play roles that show her beauty and grace as well.
I Love Angela Bassett, but I think the lady who played 50′s grandmother in Get rich or Die trying looks more like biggie’s mom. I can’t wait to see who plays lil kim and faith.
They did a good job casting everyone looks on point for the roles, but i think there kinda milking his death to the bone now.
wat happen wit sean kingston ? maybe he playin young biggie .he would of been perfect. derek luke can act but he dont look nothin like diddy. i wanna see how he pull this off . everyone is else is a good choice. i wonder who gonna play little kim countess v from the parkers would be perfect. also who gonna play faith evans. anywho cant wait till see it . do i smell oscar nom already . i hope soundtrack is bangin u know diddy gonna make the movie has a dope soundtrack
video of Jamal Woolard aka Gravy rapping
http://www.youtube.com/wa...8-mt0&feature=related
i’m just not buying Angela Basset playin violetta Wallace lol i’m sorry not that look should matter but they have NOTHING in common at all.
INTERVIEW
http://www.youtube.com/wa...rvICs&feature=related
derek luke as diddy ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm no
Great casting, but I’m just afraid the movie won’t be good.
I cant wait to see the movie!!!
I just think that they should get someone other than Derek Luke to play Diddy.
uh…i guess after the make up and costumes i’ll see it more…and I agree with getting someone else totally to play diddy
Who will portray Faith and Lil Kim???
I guess no one really can look just like Biggie but the other casting choices are on point.
I think Ms.Wallace couldn’t ask for a better actress to play her role. The other actors also have impressive resumes and should make this a stellar performance.
I just read that Jamie Hector (Marlo from the wire) is playing D-ROC, Biggie’s best friend…should be a good movie.
I love Angela so at least that will go well. I do not know about everyone else, but it has to be better the Puffy’s A Raisin in the Sun performance. Thank God the egomanic didn’t demand to play himself that would be too much. So who is playing LiL Him and Faith Evans. And no that wasn’t a typo.
the one has spoken…shut the BACK DOOR and call someone in Pennsylvania so we can shut the Democractic contest down and announce Barack the winner!
Angela, Derek and Anthony Mackie are excellent actors, so they will probably hold their own in the movie. Since this is “Gravy’s” first time acting, that may be a challenge esp., when you are playing someone who had such a distinctive character.
But George Tillman is a good director, so it will probably be just fine.
The lineup makes me want to see the movie already. I thought Sean Kingston was playing Biggie?
#6..BIG couldnt rap? im guessin u one of them bitches that looove 2pac and therefor dont like BIG..BIG is one of the best rappers ever…SMH these tricks talkin about Lil Wayne best and all that them niggas wack but they say BIG cant rap..we all know that females only like rappers with a special swagger, and those doin the most/best hit songs. BIG had flow, lyrics, wordplay so how he couldnt rap?
Jamal does LOOK like Biggie. I think Derek and Anthony can “transform” into Diddy and Tupac respectively….
Angela looks nothing like Miss Wallace. But I know she will do a great job.
Who gives a flying monkey about this dead ass issue? This isn’t even relevant any more to most people. Rest in peace BIGGIE.
WHOS GONNA PLAY LIL KIM?!??!?!?!??! lol
You know I honestly think some people on here just say dumb things out there mouth to evoke a response or reaction. This is my first ever post on concrete loop, but it is time. #6 you must not get enough attention. I respect your opinion on BIG not being able to rap although everyone who is a real hip hop fan knows that he could be arguably the greatest rapper of all time, but that is my opinion. But when you start talking about someone’s mom who also lost a child you are just an idiot and it can’t be real. So since you want everyone to pay you some attention here you go. You don’t get enough in your life so here you go. And that is not just to you either. There are a lot of people on here just like you who just say the complete opposite of what is being said just to get attention. I know me personally if I didn’t like something I wouldn’t bother with it, but you guys go out of your way to post something negative which amazes me. I thought this was here so we could know what was going on with our celebrities and support or even sometimes offer positive criticism but some of you nasty people are just ridiculous.
So here you go a post just for you.
All of the actors chosen are great at what they do, well I don’t know about the guy playing Biggie. I think they made good choices, we will see though.
Doesn’t Angela play everybody, lol? Casting is decent though, based on resemblance at least.
Angel, you said the rapping is more important than the acting, but I ask you: don’t you think it would be smarter to make sure the acting is in place first? I’m thinking that the key to sounding the part is effectively mimicking BIG’s heavy-tongued speech and rhythm habits while rapping, and a LOT of people can do that, but to truly be lost in the character and rediscover his mannerisms, the way he would express different emotions, his pain, implications of his relationships with the other people in his life and so forth (so the movie will be good even when he’s NOT rapping) you’d want to find an accomplished actor.
Derek luke as diddy I don’t think so? They should have got serena williams ex boyfriend.
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EXACTLY @ #34!! They need to choose someone that can ACT first as that is the MAIN art of Big’s “swagger”.. This movie aint about rappin.. it’s about his life… J.Lo did “Selena” and everybody know Selena sang better than her.. They can DUB Biggie’s voice over the performances if he cant get the “voice” right.. DUH! As long as ol dude can act, he can pull it off.
I think the other actors are going to do fine as well. Yall act like Biggie’s mom always looked like that.. Angela has to play her in younger years as well, i’m sure. Stop getting caught up on looks so much.
@36 ITA. The looks also come secondary. Laurence Fishburne looked nothing like Ike….and he killed it in What’s Love Got to Do with it. It is all in how the actors adapt to the role.
great casting !!!!!!!!!
They should have casted RICK ROSS As BIGGIE in the Movie, This Kat Gravy aint Got the swagger big has, and they should of Cast Loretta Divine As biggie Mom in the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1lTVwjQZfU
Ricky Ross All Day….
NO GUERRILLA BLACK SHOULD HAVE PLAYED BIGGIE. HE LOOKS & SOUNDS LIKE BIGGIE EFFORTLESSLY.
Dude looks nothing like Pac. Period. I’m a little torn now because although I’m not much of a fan of Biggie…My fav actress, Angie B and my boo Derek Luke gone be in it! …….I don’t know..
The casting is top notch! Anthony Mackie is one of my favorite male actors! I love him
#6…just shut up
I hope Puffy has nothing to do with the making of the movie as I know it will be slanted to favour him greatly if he does., I would like this film to be above all..HONEST…I want to see a true depiction of this young man’s life…I am not going to lie…a Tupac film I woould have been more excited about as he was such a complex man…but we’ll see..
Damn that dude playing Pac is hella fine and so is Derek Luke
Not sure about this movie. I still think Tupac was a better rapper and I’d rather see a movie about him. I think they should have cast Loretta as Biggies mom too.. I’ll wait for the video to come out.
Um…why?
hairsmystory.com
TO PIGGY BACK ON #43 British Black Girl…
WHO DOES OWN THE RIGHTS TO THIS MOVIE BECAUSE THAT’S WHO’S POV WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE…ALSO WHO IS PRODUCING THIS PROJECT, DO I SMELL BAD BOY???
thi should be nice….. cant wait to see it!! mybe ill be somehwere otyher than okc when its comes out… like NY!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought Guerilla Black should have played Big. He sounds just like him and looks enough like him to pull this off.
Check the video link http://youtube.com/watch?v=rY4ubZ_-_D4
I think these are excellent choices for the role. I love me some Derek Luke he is just sexy to me, its them lips (to bad he don’t like sistas). He is also a very talented actor and will do good playing Diddy. I am also sure Diddy had a say so in who he wants to play him. I little of subject but remember Ruthie from the Real World she looks just like Tupac to me LOL.
As far ,as the casting goes. I for one think that Ms. Angela Bassett will (“show out”) lke she has done in most of her other roles,she is defintley a great chose. With her skills,she will be able to capture Ms. Wallace (which I’m sure Ms.Wallace herself made it very clear that,she would only get one the best actress to protray her). Ms. Wallace is a very honest, endearing and courageous woman. Just by reading her book and seeing her in her interviews that she isn’t the type that’s going to have this project be “half assed”!
I think that Derek Luke will be able to pull off “Puffy” and Anthony Mackie should be able to portray Tupac(whom I love,I guess I’m one of those:@ #28 )
28.
CONCRETELOOP KILLAH
Thursday, March 6, 2008 /
#6..BIG couldnt rap? im guessin u one of them bitches that looove 2pac and therefor dont like BIG..BIG is one of the best rappers ever…SMH these tricks talkin about Lil Wayne best and all that them niggas wack but they say BIG cant rap..we all know that females only like rappers with a special swagger, and those doin the most/best hit songs. BIG had flow, lyrics, wordplay so how he couldnt rap?
JUST THE PART ABOUT THOSE WHO LOVE TUPAC-LOL!
I’m a fan of Big’s as well,but I LOVE PAC!
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I agree with the comments posted by number(s) 29-Chelly,32-Mel,36-Knuck,and 37-Tamdiggy.
This will be a good moive,can’t wait to see it. I’m not familar with the man(Jamal Woolard ) cast to portray “Biggie”,but I’m sure he knows he’s got to bring it. With Ms. Wallace herself involved he has to, only time will tell and I’m sure that the director will make sure that he does his thing,too! (George Tillman Jr.) he has directed a few of my favorite movies-Soul Food,Barbershop-1 and 2 and Roll Bounce.
that’s a bad picture of tupac. his lips are so ashy. it sould be intresting.
LOOOLL HOW OFF CAN THEY GET WITH THIS CASTING HAHA!
I know alot of people that look like Tupac..they could’ve done a whole lot better than this lol
This whole movie looks like it’s going to be a 3-ring circus and a glorification of this dude, who was talented, but was off as hell. It’s another coonfest and it just seems like the only pictures that get greenlighted in Hollywood are the ones that reinforce the worship of hip-hop as a religion and these rappers as gods. What is the movie really going to focus on? I don’t understand the point. At least Tupac had a focus and a message. It wasn’t like Biggie Smalls ever had a real message other than promoting satanism, drug-dealing, rape, and murder. At least these out of work black actors can make some money. All these great historical black people that can have movies made about them and this clown gets memorialized onscreen, lol.
I agree #49. I was under the impression that Guerilla Black was going to play Biggie. I guess I was wrong. And who is going to play Lil Kim?
I’m not interested in the movie but they did do a good job with the casting, so far.
I don’t trust his mother, she is always trying to make Biggie out to having been this angel. Plus, we have heard enough about his life. Oh well, whatev…
ohh yeaa…mi gurl Anglea looks like Biggie’s mama fo realz..!!!
they did a great job casting..!!!
i wonder wen itz gonna come out..?!?!
i mite go see it.
I believe that Naturi Haughton from 3LW is going to play Lil Kim and
Antonique Smith from the play “RENT” is going to play Faith
alright, ummm…”gravy” you better play this part good! this is my favorite rap artist right here!!!
wonder who’s gonna be lil kim?
#6: you’re wither a big tupac fan or under the age of 19 to remember or understand his lyrics. go crank a soldier boy a sumthin…LOL
*either