George Tillman Jr., best known for directing Soul Food, has come aboard to helm the Notorious B.I.G. biopic being made by Fox Searchlight. According to Variety, Sean "Diddy Combs" will be an executive producer on the film.

Fox Searchlight, which has owned the rights to B.I.G.'s story since 1995, put out an open casting call for the role of the rapper last week. Anyone who bared even a slight resemblance to the man has been encouraged to send in a tape whether they are an actor or not.

Cheo Hodari Coker and Reggie Rock Bythewood are currently writing the screenplay. Coker wrote the biography Unbelievable: The Life, Death and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G.. The film will most likely focus on the private life of Christopher Wallace, known to most people as Biggie Smalls.

Wallace's mother, Voletta Wallace, and former music managers Wayne Barrow and Mark Pitts, as well as Robert Teitel are all listed as producers on the film.

Fox Searchlight president of production Claudia Lewis stated of Tillman, "We know he will make a brilliant movie and show the true humanity of Christopher Wallace's character."