Ky-Mani Marley Says He Or One Of His Brothers Should Have Gotten Lead Role In Bob Marley Biopic

Ky-mani Marley, son of late Reggae legend Bob Marley, says he or any of his brothers would be a much better fit for the lead role in their father’s upcoming Paramount Pictures biopic.

Instead, according to Deadline, it will be played by British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir.

“Nuhbody cyaan play my father better than me; unless ah one ah mi bredda dem, yuh know wha’ ah mean?” Marley told the Jamaica Observer in an interview on Tuesday. “But Bob Marley being from Jamaica, why any of di children or grandchildren were never given di opportunity to even audition?”

Rita Marley, Marley’s widow, as well as Ky-Mani’s sister and brother, Cedella and Ziggy Marley, were among those named as the film’s producers.

Last November, the younger Marley had said that playing his father would be the dream role of his acting career and that he would be perfect for the role, given his acting experience and lineage.

Ben-Adir, age 35, was born in Gospel Oak, London, to a black Trinidadian mother and white British father.  He has previously played Malcolm X in Amazon Studios’ One Night in Miami and President Barack Obama on Showtime’s The Comey Rule.  From 2017 to 2019, he appeared in series four and five of the BBC One television series Peaky Blinders.

Marley, 45, added that he is by no means discrediting the talent of Ben-Adir, however, he believes the decision to have him play the role is a bit presumptuous.

“I’m not taking anything away from this British actor at all. All di credits to him same way, but why we couldn’t find someone in Jamaica? There are so many talented actors and actresses in Jamaica, how come we didn’t search that pool of actors there?” Ky-Mani asked during the interview.

“Not because it’s Paramount mean yuh have to go out an’ get a name actor. We can still go grass roots an’ find someone who will embody dat part an’ still give you exactly what you’re supposed to get. An’ before you know it, there’s a new talent on di forefront. Dat is jus’ my view,” he continued.

Many of Bob’s supporters had taken to social media to condemn the still unconfirmed casting decision, with many convinced that Ben-Adir would be unable to master Jamaican patois.

Ky-Mani sharedthe same sentiments.

“When you are doing a movie about a man weh di world know, di world know how him talk, di world know him take interview, di world know him persona. You cyaan go round dat. You cyaan put a man wid a different accent an’ expect di world fi sey yuh do a great job. No!”

The junior Marley has copped his fair share of acting roles in his lifetime.

He starred in the 2002 film Shottas, alongside Spragga Benz and One Love, in 2001. He has written six screenplays and is currently in the final production stages of Vendetta, a movie he directed and wrote. It is slated for release this year.