Film And TV
14 Feb 22

Kingsley Ben-Adir to play Bob Marley in new biopic from King Richard director

Kingsley Ben-Adir to play Bob Marley in new biopic from <i>King Richard</i> director

Kingsley Ben-Adir is known for his roles in 'One Night in Miami', 'The OA', 'High Fidelity' and 'Peaky Blinders'. His next role will tackle reggae pioneer Bob Marley before his death from cancer in his 30s.

Paramount’s upcoming Bob Marley biopic has finally found its star after a year-long search.

Fresh off of playing Malcolm X in One Night in Miami, London actor Kingsley Ben-Adir has scored the coveted role of the reggae trailblazer after an extensive casting process.

Reinaldo Marcus Green, who recently earned six Oscar nominations for his Williams' sisters project King Richard, will helm the untitled film. King Richard creenwriter Zach Baylin is penning the script.

The studio has not disclosed specific plot details, but the film will focus on Marley’s life and career.

Considered the pioneer of reggae music, Jamaica native Bob Marley started performing in 1963 with The Wailers. He went solo more than a decade later in 1974 and had a profound impact on the music landscape before he died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36. Some of his biggest hits include 'Jammin', 'Stir It Up,' 'Get Up, Stand Up,” 'Buffalo Soldier', 'Three Little Birds' and 'Redemption Song.'

The upcoming musical movie is being made with support from Marley’s family. His son, Ziggy Marley, his wife, Rita Marley, and his daughter, Cedella Marley, will produce on behalf of Tuff Gong. Robert Teitel will also serve as a producer.

Ben-Adir’s credits include Hulu series High Fidelity, Netflix’s The OA and Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ show Secret Invasion as the main villain.

From 2017 to 2019, he appeared in series four and five of the BBC One television series Peaky Blinders alongside Cillian Murphy.

Ben-Adir starred in Amazon's One Night in Miami along side Eli Goree (Cassius Clay), Leslie Odom Jr. (Sam Cooke), and Aldis Hodge (Jim Brown). The flick was directed by Regina King.

Prior to this breakout role as Malcolm X, Kingsley was cast in a putative Ang Lee film about the “Thrilla In Manila”, as Ali, and spent two years screen-testing, chemistry-testing and even training to box in the Philippines before the film fell through.

Midway through the One Night in Miami shoot, the 35-year-old flew to Toronto to portray President Barack Obama in the CBS miniseries The Comey Rule, alongside Jeff Daniels’ laconic FBI director James Comey and Brendan Gleeson’s Trump.

Revisit Hot Press' famous 1978 interview with Bob Marley here.