A battle over the movie rights to late rapper TUPAC SHAKUR’s life story is heading to trial – the case will be heard next year (10).

The star’s mother Afeni Shakur has been locked in a bitter battle with film production company Morgan Creek since November (08) over allegations her firm Amaru Entertainment backed out of negotiations to take the rapper’s story to the big screen.

Lawyers for Morgan Creek claim Afeni refused “to honour and perform a contract of a production of the film based on the life of Tupac Shakur”.

Representatives for the rapper’s mother filed a counter-lawsuit against Morgan Creek over the movie and sabotage allegations back in February (09).

The two sides are now set to battle it out next April (10), after a court ruled earlier this week (begs31Aug09) that the case should go to trial.

And Afeni is delighted with the outcome. Her lawyer says, “We are pleased with the court’s ruling. It supports our claim that Morgan Creek tortuously interfered with the making of the Tupac Shakur movie. I look forward to trying this case and have the jury decide the matter. Morgan Creek has a history of bullying people into giving them rights they did not acquire. This time, they picked on the wrong people.”

By rounak