When Boyz n the Hood was released during the golden age of West Coast rap, it painted a vivid picture of gang culture in Los Angeles County from a much different perspective than the classic hood film/crime drama Colors (1988). The movie remains a significant piece of urban culture in Southern California, having inspired rappers like Kendrick Lamar and hit television series such as Snowfall. 

Two years after Boyz n the Hood hit movie theatres, Blood In Blood Out (originally called Bound by Honor) was released. Unlike previous hood films/crime dramas based in Los Angeles, such as Colors and Boyz n the Hood, Blood In Blood Out focused on the Chicano side of gang culture by chronicling the young lives of Miklo along with his cousins Cruz and Paco. Not only did the fictional storyline about family, street life, and prison politics become a cult classic that launched the careers of prominent actors such as Benjamin Bratt, Raymond Cruz, and Jesse Borrego, but it also popularized phrases like "Vatos Locos Forever."  The final scene of the film features an emotional dialogue between Benjamin Pratt's character (Paco) and Jesse Borrego's character (Cruz). It remains a fan favorite and has also sparked folkloric rumors about missing scenes and a sequel that never happened despite popular demand. Over the years, fans of the film have even argued that its cultural impact and place in history should be mentioned alongside Boyz n the Hood.

During a recent Q&A with BRealTV, Jesse Borrego, the man many argue was the breakout star of Blood In Blood Out, explained to the interviewers, B-Real and Steftone, that the movie was initially presented to the executive producers as a five-hour film in order to persuade them to greenlight a sequel. Hence, Borrego confirmed fans' beliefs that a sequel does exist, and it was shot by director Taylor Hackford, similar to how Francis Ford Coppola filmed Godfather I & II before it was ultimately dismissed.

"I'm going to give you some inside trivia," Borrego said. "You know that's not the original ending?"

"Really?" Replied Steftone. "I did not know that, but it is a great ending."

"What was the original?" Asked B-Real.

"To me, it's the only ending it could be. But the original principal photography--that wasn't the ending. The original ending was the same scene, only with me, Frankie, and Chuey. So, it was Raymond Cruz and Valente Rodriguez. So, it was the same scene, we're talking about the mural, we're talking about 'Vatos Locos,' I do the whole 'cause we're from East Los chased by hounds' speech, but it was the three dudes...The original idea was that we were going to do a part two. So, there always were plans to do a part two. But [Taylor Hackford] wanted to do it kind of like Godfather, where he shot one and two right away. Have you ever heard of a five-hour version?"

"No," Steftone answered.

"It's an internet rumor," Borrego stated. "People talk about, 'Oh, there's a five-hour version out there.' So, I asked Taylor, I go, 'Taylor, was there ever a five-hour version?' He goes, 'Yeah, I showed the Disney executives a five-hour version. I was trying to show them that I had enough for two [movies] and that all they had to do was give me permission, and I was going to put them out as one and two.' I go, 'Yeah, because they're always talking about this five-hour version.' He goes, 'Nah, it's never come out, dude, so no one has ever seen that version, but yes, originally I showed them. [A five-hour version] existed."

In April, ABC7 aired a feature about Blood In Blood Out, celebrating the film's 30th anniversary. To this day, fans and various media outlets continue to fuel rumors that a potential follow-up project is in the works and will finally be released someday.

Source: Instagram