Johnny Depp to Star in Tupac/Biggie Movie, For Some Reason

If you read the recent study going around showing that Hollywood isn’t any better with diversity and minority representation than it was nearly a decade ago and wondered what kind of decisions led to that sort of imbalance, then look no further. Per THR, we have the perfect example of how Hollywood can look at a story idea and twist it to be about white people.

Johnny Depp is set to star in a movie about the murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls.

Currently titled Labyrinth (another bizarre decision, but that’s beside the point), the movie will follow Depp as Detective Russell Poole as he investigates the infamous murders of two of the 1990s’ greatest rappers. The movie is based on a nonfiction book that details Poole’s investigation and his conclusion that cops, Death Row Records’ Suge Knight, and street gang The Bloods were involved in the murder of The Notorious B.I.G.

Labyrinth will be directed by Brad Furman, best known for The Lincoln Lawyer and this year’s The Infiltrator.

So, your first question might be: why not make any of the people of color who figured prominently in these events the leads of this movie?

Presumably, Hollywood’s answer will be obstinate silence while making the movie and then a rushed statement about “doing better” right before the film’s release.