In Hollywood, nothing is as attractive as success. When one movie hits, you can bet multiple copycats will follow.
And so, with the amazing late-summer run of “Straight Outta Compton,” which has stayed atop the box office for three weeks, you can be darn sure that, as we speak, junior studio execs are combing through LA’s used record stores, looking for 1980s and 1990s acts that could be ripe for the big screen.
Big Daddy Kane? 2 Live Crew? Beastie Boys? Anything is possible.
But if you had to lay down money on which film might come next, here are three strong prospects.
Public Enemy
The first name that came into the minds of most was Public Enemy — including Ice Cube. He’s said he’s open to making a movie about the militant 1980s group.
Enemy’s story would be ripe for the biopic treatment. It’s got everything a good story needs — drama, conflict and, of course, Flavor Flav. Yeahhh, boy!
Will it ever happen? Who knows. Frontman Chuck D has said he’s not really interested in a biopic. He’s focused on the now, not the past.
He wrote on Twitter that fans would be better off supporting the group’s new album, “Man Plans God Laughs,” instead of advocating for a movie that “will never happen.”
But in a recent interview he admitted that “I can’t make that call” when it comes to an Enemy biopic. He also suggested he might be open to creating a soundtrack.
Wu-Tang Clan
For “Straight Outta Compton” director F. Gary Gray, the next hip-hop biopic should focus on Staten Island’s own Wu-Tang Clan.
“I could tell you I don’t know the story of Wu-Tang. I know they did something really different,” Gray told All Hip Hop.
A Wu-Tang movie could be really appealing — it certainly wouldn’t lack for characters, as the group has some 10 members. And the heart of the film could be Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the outrageous rapper who had multiple run-ins with the law and ultimately died of a drug overdose in 2004.
Speaking on Hot 97 last month, Wu-Tang member Raekwon called for the group to get the movie treatment.
“When we make a Wu movie, bet your ass it’s gonna be serious, because we gotta tell the truth,” he said.
Tupac
A movie about Tupac’s life has long been in the works but has hit a few stumbling blocks and has yet to materialize.
John Singleton, director of “Boyz n the Hood” and “2 Fast 2 Furious,” was set to make the Tupac movie in 2014, but he later dropped out. On Instagram, the director accused the people behind the film of not being “really respectful of the legacy of Tupac.”
Singleton promised to make the movie on his own.
Carl Franklin (“Out of Time”) later stepped in for Singleton but, as of yet, the film has not been cast or started production. (A casting notice did appear over the summer, however, on backstage.com.)
If it doesn’t begin shooting by year’s end, the rights will reportedly revert to Tupac’s widow.
However, those behind Tupac’s official Facebook page last month posted a cryptic message suggesting big news was forthcoming. A photo of the rapper was posted with the quote, “Expect me . . .”
Turned out it was just the announcement for a new art exhibit. Any movie news is still forthcoming.