Plethora of roles for Jamaicans in Bob Marley biopic

A team from Paramount Pictures will be in Jamaica this weekend to conduct casting at the AC Marriott Hotel for the Bob Marley biopic, and there are lots of roles on offer for Jamaicans.

The yet-untitled biopic stars Kingsley Ben-Adir in the title role as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley. However, roles are open for Bob at various stages in his life, including baby Bob, young Bob (ages four to eight; 11-13 and 15-18). There are also a myriad of roles for other main figures in Marley's life including: young Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh, and young Marley children Ziggy, Stephen, Cedella and Sharon (ages four - 13 years); as well as young Rita (ages 18-22); ). There are also roles for teen to young adult Bob, Tosh and Wailer (19 - 22) and Rita (age 17).

There is also a role for: Cindy Breakespeare in her 20s; Don Taylor (33); Antonio 'Gillie' Gilbert (30s); Neville Garrick (25); Bucky Marshall (30s); Claudie Massop (30s); Joe Higgs (30s); Coxsone Dodd (27-32); and Cedella Booker, Bob Marley's mother, (ages 28-49).

A press release stated, "With several important speaking roles, aspiring talent must be fluent in patois and ready for on-camera auditions. Children under 18 years old should be accompanied by an adult who can sign consent forms."

Other roles open are for Livingston, Tosh and Aston 'Family Man' Barrett (ages 26-31); Carlton 'Carly' Barrett (age 27); Tyrone Downie (age 19); Donald Kinsey (age 23); Junior Marvin (mid-20s); Judy Mowatt (20s); Marcia Griffiths (28); and Seeco Patterson (46).

Ziggy, Bob's eldest son, is quoted in the release as saying: "I'm happy we have this opportunity to engage our talented Jamaicans in this project from the beginning. It's very important to us to represent the story well and share it with the world authentically."

In an interview last year, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Oscar-winning filmmaker of the movie, King Richard, had said that the biopic will include the 1976 assassination attempt on Bob Marley at his 56 Hope Road base, Marley's exile in London and the recording of the album Exodus during that time.

Notably, it was while Marley was in exile in London that he was visited by Jamaica Labour Party strongman Massop in a bid to get the singer to return home to Jamaica and headline a peace concert. Marley, who knew Massop from his Trench Town days, agreed, and the event was held at the National Stadium in April 1978.

The Bob Marley biopic is set to be released in 2024. Marcus Green will join the team in Jamaica for the casting.