A prison inmate who had implicated a former Los Angeles Police Department officer in the shooting death of rap star Biggie Smalls has renounced his story, tying a new knot in the tangle of intrigue that surrounds the still-unsolved killing.

Waymond Anderson, who was briefly a top-selling R&B; artist and is serving a life term for murder, said in a recent deposition that he lied about LAPD involvement in the Smalls slaying as part of a "scam" concocted by two other convicts to squeeze a large monetary settlement out of the city.

Smalls' family has filed a wrongful death suit seeking damages from the city. In a surprising twist, Anderson accused the rapper's family and its lawyer of participating in the scheme and offering to pay him for false testimony implicating the LAPD.

He said he was offered a percentage of any settlement if he testified that former Los Angeles Officer Rafael Perez had told him that another ex-officer, David Mack, was involved in the murder. In the deposition, he repudiated earlier statements to police investigators in which he described conversations with both of the disgraced officers.

"As producers of the biopic Notorious, we felt compelled to quell the various false media reports indicating Sean Kingston has landed the coveted role of portraying 'The Notorious B.I.G' in the upcoming film," Wayne Barrow told AllHipHop.com. "The role for B.I.G is 100% open and we are diligently searching for the individual to seize the moment and fill those giant shoes of greatness, everyone is being considered, including Sean Kingston but no one has been chosen."

�When I first heard about that movie, it was through management. They told me (and) I auditioned for it and I met with the director. I nailed it and he gave me a shot now at being in the movie."

LOS ANGELES, CA, August xx, 2006 --- Fox Searchlight Pictures announced today that George Tillman (MEN OF HONOR, SOUL FOOD) is set to direct NOTORIOUS, the screen version about the life of rapper Christopher Wallace aka Notorious B.I.G. The film will be produced by Voletta Wallace (B.I.G.�s mother), Wayne Barrow and Mark Pitts (B.I.G.�s former music managers), Bob Teitel and executive produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs based on a screenplay by Cheo Hodari Coker and Reggie Rock Bythewood. Zola Mashariki, Vice President of Production for Fox Searchlight, is overseeing the project.

�We have wanted to make a movie with George for a long time. His passion for B.I.G.'s life story is infectious,� says Fox Searchlight President of Production Claudia Lewis, �We know he will make a brilliant movie and show the true humanity of Christopher Wallace's character.�

Director Tillman said, "Being a huge fan of Notorious B.I.G. as an artist, I'm excited to direct the bio-pic of Christopher Wallace. It's a truly epic tale. There's so much to the story that has yet to be told and I am humbled by the journey he took to become a man before his untimely death. This is an amazing opportunity to make an iconic film."

Producer Barrow said, �George Tillman's dedication to the life story of B.I.G. is equal to those that knew and loved Christopher best. His attention to detail and keen sensibility to capture the emotional depth of a character speaks volumes to his ability as a director. We are thrilled to have him onboard and look forward to seeing the life of B.I.G. through his lens."

In just a few short years, Notorious B.I.G. rose from the streets of Brooklyn to become one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. B.I.G. was a gifted storyteller; his narratives about violent life on the streets were told with a gritty, objective realism that won him enormous respect and credibility. His stories were universal and gave a voice to his generation.

Fox Searchlight Pictures is a specialty film company that both produces and acquires motion pictures. It has its own marketing and distribution operations, and its films are distributed internationally by Twentieth Century Fox. Fox Searchlight Pictures is a unit of Fox Filmed Entertainment, a unit of Fox Entertainment Group.

The role of Notorious B.I.G. for an upcoming biopic on the rapper will be found through an open casting call, the film�s producers told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The still untitled Notorious B.I.G. project, which has been in the works for nearly seven years, will seek its star by auditioning actors and non-actors alike who resemble the rapper, whose real name was Christopher Wallace. Anyone can submit audition videos beginning 3 a.m. (EDT) Sunday to www.foxsearchlight.com/notorious or www.biggiecasting.com.