News of June 6, 2003
Sylvester Stallone Plans a Film About the Death of Tupac and Biggie
Working title "Rampart Scandal": Stallone planned to film the Tupac and Biggie police theory. In September, Suge Knight agreed to play himself.
On June 6, 2003, MTV News and AllHipHop reported an unusual Hollywood project: Sylvester Stallone wanted to write, direct, and star in a feature film about the death of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.. According to Daily Variety, the working title was “Rampart Scandal”. At the center was to be the corruption scandal in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division, which some theories link to the shootings of both rappers.
Stallone as Russell Poole
Stallone wanted to play former LAPD Detective Russell Poole. Poole had helped uncover the Rampart scandal and, in Nick Broomfield’s documentary Biggie & Tupac, held Suge Knight responsible for Tupac’s death. According to Variety, the film was to recount the events from multiple perspectives, like the Japanese classic “Rashomon”. AllHipHop cited September 1 as the start of filming.
Suge Knight to Play Himself
As early as June, reports indicated that Stallone was courting Suge Knight to play himself. On September 19, AllHipHop reported his agreement. Stallone reportedly wanted to give Knight the opportunity to answer questions that no one had ever asked him. At the time, Knight was in custody for a probation violation: he had allegedly struck a parking attendant outside a Hollywood nightclub. Further background: Theories on the murder case.