Today (August 21) marks exactly one week since the world was treated with the story of N.W.A. and their rise from Compton natives to America’s Most Dangerous Rap Group in “Straight Outta Compton,” and there are already talks of a sequel.
Last Friday (August 14), the film opened up at the box office and crushed expectations over the weekend with its monster $60.2 million debut. Charge that to the strength of street knowledge. However, before the film even enters its second week, Daz Dillinger of Tha Dogg Pound is telling TMZ about plans for another interpretation.
The details are sketchy, but according to Daz, Tha Dogg Pound — consisting of Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, and Daz — will be the subject of the next big rap biopic, said to be titled, “Dogg Pound 4 Life.” Why there would be plans for a Dogg Pound biopic is up in the air for debate, but Daz tells TMZ the film will purportedly be a sequel, of sorts, to “Straight Outta Compton.”
If it gets made, “DP4L” will pick up where N.W.A. left off and follow the careers of DPG, 2Pac, and other West Coast legends. As far as casting rumors go, none of the actors from the box office smash “Compton,” including the actor playing Snoop (Keith Stanfield), are expected to reprise their roles. Although neither Dre nor Ice Cube are expected to be attached to the film, Daz reportedly said the latter expressed his approval for the project. Over the past few weeks, Daz has been promoting the film over Instagram, posting links to the film’s supposed website (it’s not yet functional) along with captions like, “THA SAGA CONTINUEZ.”
While the Dogg Pound’s legacy is one that certainly lives in the book of rap greats, a biopic on the group on the scale of “Straight Outta Compton” isn’t something that would get moviegoers rushing to the theaters.
One film that would, however, is the long-gestating film about Tupac that the world has yet to receive. Quite frankly, the talk of a supposed “SOC” sequel shouldn’t even be a conversation except if its main subject was Shakur. Over the past couple of years, Pac’s biopic has hit more left turns than a Nascar race. Director John Singleton was originally attached to the forever-in-the-making flick, but after much production delay, he was later replaced by Carl Franklin.
“The reason I am not making this picture is because the people involved aren’t really respectful of the legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur,” Singleton would later explain in an Instagram post following news of his replacement for the movie. “I won’t say much if you want you can read my articles in Hollywood Reporter on authenticity in Black Storytelling … To Pac’s real fans just know I am still planning a movie on Tupac.”
However in a report this week by Yahoo News, actor Marcc Rose, who, for a split-second, plays the role of Shakur in “Straight Outta Compton,” told the outlet that he has aligned with Singleton for a “proper biopic” for the late rap icon. “Me and director John Singleton are trying to brainstorm and form together a proper biopic for him,” the 23-year-old said.
Despite his short screen-time in the N.W.A. film, Rose made a big impression on moviegoers with his nearly-perfect resemblance to Shakur. So the news of his possible attachment to the still-in-the-making biopic should sit well with fans.
“Hopefully if everything works out we can make it work.” Rose also revealed that he was originally set to appear in the first planned 2Pac biopic, but also made mention that after Singleton left, “So did I.””If the rights to the biopic are returned to Pac’s mom, Afeni Shakur, John Singleton and I will be reassociated with it,” he added. Rose noted that after “Compton” hit the box office, an official announcement on the Pac film would be made. So far, still no word. As for that “Dogg Pound 4 Life” film, however, only time will tell (?).