The long-planned biopic of Tupac is to begin filming next year (2014).

The film's producers and financiers and producers Morgan Creek and Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films have announced plans to begin principal photography on the film next spring.

The two companies held a reception for friends and supporters of the late hip-hop artist in Santa Monica last week, Billboard reports, where producer Randall Emmett confirmed that the 2014 date is a definite.

Work on the film was originally due to start in 2011 after a lengthy legal battle between Morgan Creek and the rapper's mother Afeni Shakur.

The film company sued Shakur, claiming she continued to attempt to get creative control over the film after she had signed away the rights to her son's music and story. Shakur then countersued, claiming she had no such arrangement. The case was later settled out of court and Shakur is now an executive producer on the film.

The film has yet to find its Tupac. Previous reports have suggested that the producers are still deciding whether to pick an established name or seek out an unknown up-and-coming actor.

There no is director in place yet either but the film has a script in the works.

Tupac, full name Tupac Amaru Shakur, died on September 13, 1996 after being shot several times during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas six days earlier. His killer has never been found. He has now sold over 75 million records worldwide, having released a greater number of studio albums since his death than when he was alive.