Since the very dawn of Hollywood’s existence, we have seen the celebrities at its forefront take on larger than life personas. From actors and actresses to professional athletes, the entertainment industries have fostered the development of countless icons throughout their illustrious histories that continue to live on in pop culture well beyond their eventual passing. Though always untimely, while these individuals pass on to the afterlife we as consumers of the content they produced keep their spirit as alive as it’s ever been. This has especially been the case for one music industry icon, and now his story is set to come to the big screen: Paramount Pictures is currently producing a biopic about the legendary reggae artist Bob Marley, and they have cast Kingsley Ben-Adir to play the esteemed musician.
Born in Jamaica in 1945, Marley would begin making music professionally as a teenageer in the 1960’s before being propelled into superstardom. He would quickly become the face of an entire, rapidly growing genre in Reggae, embracing his Jamaican heritage to the fullest extent, and go on to have one of the most remarkable runs in the history of the music industry. Sadly we would lose the revered musician far too soon when he passed away in 1981 at the age of 36 from a form of skin cancer, and the music industry would never be the same again. Bob Marley still lives on to this very day however, with his music still serving as the backbone of Reggae and the influence he had upon the industry being abundantly obvious. Now Paramount Pictures is set to take his story to the big screen in a new biopic that will explore the trials and tribulations Marley experienced throughout his remarkable career as well as the profound impact he had and still has upon music today. Additionally, Paramount has announced they have enlisted the help of Kingsley Ben-Adir, who recently played Malcolm X as well in One Night in Miami, to play the role of Marley and ensure that his legacy is given the treatment it rightfully deserves. Production remains in the beginning stages at this time, however diehard fans of Marley can remain on the lookout for further updates about the upcoming Bob Marley biopic.
If you were to rank the ten greatest musicians of all time, you would be hard pressed to not include Bob Marley. Whether you measure greatness in terms of album sales, influence or the legacy they left behind, Marley checked off every one of those boxes before his untimely passing and then some. It makes perfect sense why he is still remembered so fondly today, and now Paramount is set to pay him tribute with their latest project. Fans of Marley or just music history in general can keep their eyes and ears open as we await further updates about the forthcoming biopic which will examine the life of one of the greatest musicians to ever walk this earth.
