Who should play Bob Marley?

krayzie8 Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 08:07 AM EST

i think i could pass for a younger version of marley! if only it was in the works i'll audition. it'll be an honor to even try.

as for the main role, i hope they find the perfect person!

jill ikeson Sat, Jan 3, 2009 at 01:53 PM EST

Forget Corbin B, forget Chiwetel, dont even think of Denzel, forget jason castro, and forget don cheadle, The best person to play marley besides an unknown jamaican would undeniably be Andre Royo from the wire. He is a splitting and I mean splitting image of Marley, from bone structure, tone of complexion, eyes, hair (although his is not in dreads, but could easily be). Body frame, and he is a great actor, which anyone who watched the wire knows. He has depth and emotion which made him one of the most compelling characters on the show. If he can get the accent down, he would be a deadlock, because he resembles Marley more than any other actor mentioned in this blog, and he has the acting chops to do Marley justice. Please, please use Andre Royo, if they cast anyone else, at least any other known actors, they will make a huge mistake.

lehf nwousqd Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 05:29 PM EST

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brucejuice Fri, Jan 2, 2009 at 09:18 AM EST

Katt Williams should play Bob Marley lol. Hey, he smokes weed like it ain't no tomorrow lol.

Dylan Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 06:42 PM EST

His youngest son looks like his great father ALOT, well...I think so anyway.
-Peace, and love, Rastafari-

king Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 01:36 PM EST

im going with John legend.

FRANK Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 06:16 PM EST

I have to say when it comes to looks, definately corbin bleu. when i first saw corbin bleu i immediately thought he was a bob marley look a like. ive never seen him act but supposedly can sing... jason castro? at least make it historically correct when it comes to his skin color, thats a ridiculous suggestion, for christs sake. don cheadle?! hahaha maybe john legend.

jacque mati Sat, Sep 6, 2008 at 03:45 PM EST

bob marley rocks.am not ashamed to say tha i love him.i just wish he's alive.i love reggae music because of him and i want to be areggae singer just like him.i already promised him that i will do so.he appears in my dreams and he teaches my how to write reggae music.i tells my parent,sisters and brother but they always make fun of me.but in my heart i know they will be sorry for that.
reggae music is my thing and without it am nothing.

Jack Perkins Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 04:24 PM EST

Let's definitely not have an actual Jamaican portray Bob. Let's do what we always do, have Americans co-opt it. The fakin' Jamaican thing will be fun. Better yet, Brad Pitt spoke patois in a movie--we could have a white guy play Bob since America loves white and light skinned "reggae."

Joslin_Loves_Bob_Marley Fri, Jun 13, 2008 at 11:05 PM EST

I too think that Lenny Kravitz would be a good choice to play Bob! Or maybe Harry Perry! He too is a rastafarian!

noah bob Tue, May 27, 2008 at 04:35 AM EST

you people cannot be serious about jason castro to play bob marley. that is absolutely disrespectful. Honestly that is terrible. A comment like that is a sign of how little one cares or understands what bob marley's life was for. And most simply he looks nothing like him, nor does his spirit match bob in any way, shape or form. I don't know who should play bob, it is a very intense task. I believe it should be someone the world has never heard of. It should NOT be anyone famous. Peace to all.

linder Sat, May 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM EST

Definitely, JASON CASTRO!

MoonDance Stardust Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 08:50 PM EST

I've heard to my shock, horror and dismay (and to the subsequent annihilation of all that is good and decent)... that Jamie Fox is slated to portray Bob Marley in this flick.

It's truly disheartening to think of the Hollywood machine sullying the revolutionary (and prophetic) spirit/memory of Brother Bob by having such an inappropriately mainstream actor portray him in this film.

Someone with a more genuine spirit (a little less flash and bling and pouring champagne on women whilst licking one's lips and gazing longingly into the camera) and an ability to speak patios would be at the top of my wish list.

It's a sick, sad world if the Jamie Fox leak is anything but a cruel joke.

Sun, Mar 16, 2008 at 08:01 PM EST

NOT Don Cheadle - he can not - i repeat can not do accents, and despite the fact that his accent is the least important factor of the story, I will grimace throughout the whole film if Cheadle tries to emulate a west indian tone. My vote is on not don cheadle.

brucie bru Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 02:56 PM EST

I have another one, Larenz Tate.

brucie bru Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 02:49 PM EST

Fantasia should play Rita Marley

brucie bru Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 02:46 PM EST

I was thinking the same thing, Andre Royo. Either him or Mos Def.

nathan Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 02:34 PM EST

Andre Royo's his name. He should audition.

nathan Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 02:31 PM EST

The guy who plays Bubbles on The Wire! He looks an awful lot like Marley.

another valerie... Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 01:19 PM EST

...........and another vote for Jason Castro....unless there are plans for him to star in any John Travolta remakes!!

Kristin Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 11:46 AM EST

Jesse Martin is doing Marvin Gaye. I was going to say the kid who did Seaweed in Hairspray, but I heard he is doing Sammy Davis Jr.

I kind of like the idea of Corbin B or John Legend

Chris Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 10:30 AM EST

There's a guy in Marco Island, Florida that would be perfect for the part. He sings some Marley, resembles him, and he also has the dreadlocks.

kugal Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 08:45 AM EST

The first name that came to my mind was Lenny Kravitz, too!

teig Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 08:33 AM EST

i'm gonna say ben harper. and the directors and producers should let hmi sing the songs in his own voice (like "Walk the Line"). sure, it wouldn't sound like bob, but could anyone, really?

writefunny Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 04:00 AM EST

Hearing the announcement of the Bob Marley movie and looking at his picture. I'm thinking that the absolute best choice would be... JOHN LEGEND. You know, if he can act.

Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 12:42 AM EST

based on that pic, barack obama

Thad Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 11:18 PM EST

Why not Ziggy Marley? Are you kidding?

Rose Tyler Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 11:13 PM EST

Well if Cate Blanchett isn't available then Mos Def for sure.

Kati Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 08:50 PM EST

As much as I heart Chiwetel, I'd like to nominate the only good part of quarterlife, OT Fagbenle, who can sing, is hot, and sports a variety of accents. Yeah, OT!

whit Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 08:02 PM EST

let's not forget that whoever plays Bob Marley needs to be able to both act and sing, something Jesse Martin is very well known for. He gets my vote, and has the time since he is off L&O.

dave Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 07:17 PM EST

Frank Caliendo

vj Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 06:08 PM EST

I totally agree w/ Mos Def or love the Lenny K suggestion, but Lenny may not be as good an actor as Mos Def! I hope the Marley family takes their time and chooses wisely. I think LHill could do a good job as well.

will Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 06:07 PM EST

I second Mos Def

to jcarla Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 05:22 PM EST

i totally agree with your pick of Jesse L Martin, but he's playing Marvin Gaye in an upcoming biopic. that would probably be too much black musician biopic typecasting.

JuJuBee Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 05:20 PM EST

Gary Dourdan would be great!!! Love him! but Chewitel would be better.. love him in serentity ..will he/can he sing? ..Please as much as we all love Lauryn Hill and wish she would come back with another fantastic album like Reeducation.. do not cast her.. she is talented and can act but would not be right. Rita should hire professional casting people to (help?)cast this role but should also have a vote in the final decision. Her inexperience in casting or casting the wrong person could ruin what could potentially be a fantastic movie. No Denzel- too old..
I would pay the $ to see this movie though.. Soundtrack will be great!.. ONE LOVE, y'all...

Solsbury Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 05:12 PM EST

C'mon! Andre Royo (Bubbles from "The Wire") would make a tremendous Marley.

Valerie Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 04:49 PM EST

Annie B., I was TOTALLY going to say Jason Castro !!

penfold Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 04:20 PM EST

Y'all are probably going to hate me, and I confess to not being a huge Bob Marley fan... but as acting goes, Corbin Bleu is actually a good actor, and he can sing very well.

He might be too young to play adult Marley, but he could do a decent young-ish job. He really is a talent.

annie Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 04:09 PM EST

can we just cast mos def by all the votes he'll get on this comment board? i think don cheadle is too old...or maybe just too...seasoned. denzel is certainly too old.

Stephanie T. Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 04:00 PM EST

lol, Anna B. I was thinking the same thing. Terrance Howard looks the part. Alex Dessert? When I see him in dreds I still think PCU.

Ames Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 03:56 PM EST

My first thought was Terrence Howard. But after looking at the pic of Marley, I don't know. He'd have to lose some weight.

mscisluv Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 03:21 PM EST

Mos Def or Jesse Martin are great choices. But I'll admit that my first instinct was Jason Castro (who, for those who don't watch American Idol, is a hippy white guy with dreads).

OCab Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 03:17 PM EST

Denzel Washington...nuff said

EP Sato Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 03:14 PM EST

Chiwetel Ejiofor's good, because he excells in his roles. I also like Alex Dessert (the black guy in 'Swingers'). Alex is a decent enough actor, has proven he can look natural in dreads, and used to be the lead singer of a ska/reggae band.

Agreed about Lauren Hill though. She seems a little space-casey for the role.

Lynny Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 03:01 PM EST

I agree- Mos Def or Chiwetel Ejiofor. Don Cheadle is great, but too old, unfortunately. He is nearly 10 years older than Marley when he died. That Gary Dourdan has the look, but I've never seen his work. This could get interesting.

Ryan Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:57 PM EST

I think Djimon Hounsou would be a good Marley.

Annie B. Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:56 PM EST

Jason Castro!

KIDDING.

Jason Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:44 PM EST

Fred Armisen

jcarla Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:35 PM EST

Jesse L. Martin. We know the man can sing AND act.

NineDaves Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:33 PM EST

cate blanchett.

KateDFW Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:28 PM EST

I vote for Lenny Kravitz! The man can sing and it way too sexy!

Torin Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:25 PM EST

I think that Chiwetel Ejiofor could do great things with this role. He is versatile and talented, and I think that he has a natural swagger that Marley seemed to have -- confident without being cocky.

p Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:23 PM EST

jason castro, done.

Melissa Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:22 PM EST

I agree -- Mos Def. Or, if he's not available, how about Chiwetel Ejiofor?

tia77 Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:21 PM EST

Agree with New Yorker as Gary Dourdan (Warrick- CSI) is a dead ringer and my first thought. And he's an accomplished musician, playing several instruments (not sure about his singing voice though...)

Saph Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:15 PM EST

I think Mos Def would be a great choice for the role.

new yorker Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 02:14 PM EST

How about Ben Harper? The man makes good music, and he's not really an actor either, but being a fan of his, I know that he could find the essence of Bob Marley within himself and the music. Gary Dourdan of CSI would be another good choice. He's also musically inclined, and I'm sure he could rock that role. Rita Marley may prove to be a bit trickly, but if I were the director and casting director, I would consider Sophie Okonedo.