Is 'Straight Outta Compton' Getting A Sequel?

It's no surprise that N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton has taken the world by storm. With over $141 million in box office sales since its theatrical release on August 14, it's safe to say that it's been a massive success, which may or may not have come as a surprise to studio execs. Of course, there are millions of hip hop fans around the world who were hyped to see the history of one of rap's biggest and most influential groups play out on the big screen, Straight Outta Compton's reach has expanded to even the most casual of music fans, reacquainting old followers and introducing a whole new generation to N.W.A's legendary sound. With that in mind, it's no surprise that a Straight Outta Compton sequel of sorts entitled Welcome To Death Row is being shopped around — though securing its release might get a bit complicated.

Welcome To Death Row is based on a book and documentary of the same name by S. Leigh Savidge, who also happened to receive story and co-executive producer credit on Straight Outta Compton. The new film would feature many of the same rappers as Straight Outta Compton, though the timeline would be somewhat different: we'd be moving on past the time N.W.A. formed to delve into the stories of the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Suge Knight, all of whom rose to fame in years following.

It all sounds great, but there's one major snag Savidge will run into in getting Welcome To Death Row off the ground: there are no music rights attached to the new movie, which would nearly kill the project before it gets off the ground unless they can work something out with the owners of Tupac's and Snoop's rights. It would certainly be a perfect continuation of such an important story in the world of hip hop, and no doubt it'd do just as well as its predecessor in theaters. Hip hop fans are starved for representation in Hollywood, so the likes of Straight Outta Compton has been a refreshing and welcome addition to the movie world.

At the moment, it's still too early to tell whether or not Welcome To Death Row will come to fruition, but given the massive worldwide success of Straight Outta Compton, it would be in the studio's best interest to work out the music rights and get this show on the road, so to speak. For now, the 2001 book turned documentary remains stalled, but at least there's potential. I, for one, will be keeping my hopes up for it.

Image: Universal Pictures/Jaimie Trueblood