Open auditions are being planned to find the person to play the lead in a biopic about murdered rap legend Notorious BIG.
The move has been made as producer of the film, Wayne Barrow, doesn't think that anyone presently in Hollywood would be suitable to take on the role.
The hip-hop star, real name Christopher Wallace, was killed when he was sitting in his car in 1997 after he had appeared at the Soul Train Awards in LA.
Barrow said about the decision: "No-one came to mind outside of Forest Whitaker". But Whitaker was then discounted because he is 46, while BIG was only 24 when he was murdered.
Audition videos can be submitted from this Sunday to Fox Searchlight Pictures, but the star's mother Voletta Wallace does not want people to "just imitate" him.
She said: "I want to see his swagger, his style, his energy and smile come through."
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