Christopher Wallace, better known as Notorious B.I.G., will soon join the ranks of the biopic popularity circuit that’s been sweeping Hollywood off its feet as of late.

Biggie?s mother, Voletta Wallace, will join Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) in developing the film which has been repeatedly stated as not being a documentary unlike 2003?s “Tupac Resurrection,” based on his counterpart Tupac Shakur.

The untitled project is currently searching for distributors with MTV Films, likely to be labeled as a frontrunner with an anticipated release date for February 2006.

Combs has also attached Cheo Hodari Coker, author of “Unbelievable: The Life, Death and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G.,” to create the screenplay for the film. The script will focus on Biggie the man, thus incorporating personal and intimate details of his experiences throughout his life beyond rapping.

Wayne Barrow, current manager of Voletta Wallace, has been working closely on the project with Diddy from a creative standpoint especially with regards to casting Biggie.

“It’s going to be challenging to cast a B.I.G.,” Barrow said. “We’ve thrown a few names around, like Big O [actor Waverly W. Alford II] from ‘8 Mile.’ Maybe Anthony Anderson … because he has the humor. A few people said Guerilla Black, but we don’t know how that’s going to play out.”

According to MTV, casting the roles of Lil’ Kim, Faith Evans, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Puffy will depend upon the size of their roles in the finished script, Barrow said, and the artists may even be invited to play themselves, depending on their availability.






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