Reinaldo Marcus Green is currently promoting his most recent film King Richard — which stars Will Smith as the father of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams — but the director has also shared some details about the Bob Marley biopic he’ll be helming.
Speaking to Collider, Green revealed that the project is definitely going ahead and that he is in the process of looking for the right angle to take when it comes to the storied life of the iconic reggae artist and political activist.
He explained that he is working on a script with Zach Baylin (who he also collaborated with on King Richard) and that Marley’s older son Ziggy is producing.
“Ziggy Marley is, right, my point of contact for the film, and producer on the project. So we’re full steam ahead,” Green said.
“I’ve brought on Zach Baylin to help me write it, which is great bringing our team back together. Hopefully, we’ll have a script very soon. I’m really excited about that one.”
He also divulged a few of the plot details, saying, “Our film starts in ’76 and really it’s about the making of Exodus.”
Exodus was the ninth studio album by Bob Marley and the Wailers, recorded after the singer survived an assassination attempt. Marley, along with his wife and manager, was wounded in an assault by unknown gunmen inside his home, with the singer sustaining injuries to his chest and arm. He subsequently spent two years living in self-imposed exile in London, which was where he wrote and recorded the album.
There is no cast as yet but Green seems open to all possibilities. “Look, it’s open season right now,” the filmmaker said. “Anything’s possible. We don’t have any cast, so yeah, absolutely. I’m open to finding, discovering someone completely brand new, could be a family member. I’m open to anything at this point. The best actor for the role.”
That role will be a huge responsibility for whoever takes it on, given that Marley is one of the most prolific, popular and important musicians of all time. Not only was he one of the pioneers of reggae, but he was an outspoken advocate for democratic social reforms, often using his music to spread his political ideals.
With biopics already having been made about Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Freddie Mercury and ones in the works about Joey Ramone, Elvis and Grateful Dead, it is only fitting that Marley should be the subject of one too.
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