Fans of the classic crime drama "Blood In Blood Out" were sent into a whirlwind of excitement over an allegedly leaked movie poster for a sequel, but much to their chagrin, the buzz turned out to be about as real as a three-dollar bill. The fake poster, which was plastered all over social media, touted a sequel named "Money In Money Out" and featured the familiar faces of Damian Chapa, Benjamin Bratt, and Jesse Borrego from the original 1993 film. With a tagline that read "La Onda was only the beginning," and a supposed release date in March 2024, it left fans salivating at the prospect of a follow-up to the story of three Chicano cousins embroiled in East Los Angeles' gang culture. The poster made its rounds on the internet after being shared by N8 Entertainment, a Texas-based event promoter, and according to Express News, it attracted over 8,500 reactions and 2,300 comments from eager fans.
But like a bubble in the sun, hopes popped when Damian Chapa's Facebook page, sporting over 84,000 followers, called the poster "a lie." Despite garnering a lukewarm response from critics at its initial release, "Blood In Blood Out" has since risen to cult status, especially within the Mexican-American community, as reported by Express News. The film's connection to the community was so strong that a screening marking its 30th anniversary was held in San Antonio in November, attended by Jesse Borrego.
Avid followers searching for any shred of truth to the sequel rumors could find solace in a kernel of truth; the original "Blood In Blood Out" gang won't be returning to the big screen, but the movie's legacy is being kept alive in print. A book, carrying the same title, filled with never-before-seen set images, director Taylor Hackford's production journal, and new poems by screenwriter Jimmy Santiago Baca was released. As the Express News reports, the book celebrates the film's behind-the-scenes stories and features the late Adan Hernández's artwork.
Amidst swirling speculations, actor Jesse Borrego revealed in an October interview with BRealTV, as The Direct reported, about a five-hour epic version of the original film supposedly shown to Disney executives to clinch a sequel. Hackford himself, however, seemingly put to rest any dreams of the director's cut emerging from the vault, telling Borrego, "it's never come out, dude." Fans clinging to a thread of hope for more from the "Blood In Blood Out" saga may find themselves facing the hard truth that sometimes, the end of a movie is just that—an end.
