Biopics are totally having a moment. In the last year alone, the following films based on a true story have been released. RESPECT, for the telling of Aretha Franklin’s rise to fame, Spencer for a few days in life of Princess Diana, Tick, Tick…Boom! to shine a light on a part of Jonathan Larson's story and the telling of The United States vs. Billie Holiday, just to name a few. Now following in those footsteps, Paramount’s upcoming Bob Marley biopic has announced its finally found its leading man.
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After an extensive, globe-spanning, year-long search Kingsley Ben-Adir, has been cast to portray the reggae music legend. Fresh off of playing Malcolm X in One Night in Miami, Ben-Adir will join forces with King Richard (also a biopic) director and screenwriter duo Reinaldo Marcus Green and Zach Baylin, respectively.
Aside from us already knowing the film will focus on Marley’s life and career, not much else has been disclosed about the project, with the studio remaining tight-lipped about any plot details.
Considered the pioneer of reggae music, Marley, a native of Jamaica, began performing in 1963 with The Wailers. Going solo a decade later in 1974 before he died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36.
Unlike some recent biopics, the upcoming musical movie is being made with support from Marley’s family, which includes his son, Ziggy Marley, his wife, Rita Marley, and his daughter, Cedella Marley, all of whom will be receiving producer credits on behalf of Tuff Gong, alongside Robert Teitel who will also serve as a producer.
While Kingsley’s casting is one step in the right direction, it’s gonna be a minute until we see him on the screen as Bob Marley. So in the meantime, other than One Night in Miami, some other titles you can check out to get better acquainted with Ben-Adir include Netflix series The OA, British crime drama Peaky Blinders (which can also be found on Netflix) and Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ show Secret Invasion.
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