Jamie Foxx Will Play Bob Marley On The Big Screen
Monday June 5, 2006
A new Bob Marley biopic is in the works, and Hollywood star Jamie Foxx will be playing the role of the legend. Rachid Bouchareb, best known as the producer of the 2006 Cannes Film Festival's Grand Prix award-winner Flandres, will direct the movie. The film is the brainchild of Marley's widow, Rita Marley, and will cover the early part of Marley's life.
Personally, I was beyond impressed at Foxx's portrayal of Ray Charles in 2004's Ray, and I think he'll do justice to Marley as well. I also think a movie of this magnitude could bring about a resurgence of interest in reggae music... especially if Kanye West samples a Jamie-Foxx-as-Bob-Marley hook, as he did with Gold Digger. I don't think a new crowd of reggae fans is a bad thing... what do you think?
More About Bob Marley:
What do you think about the choice of Jamie Foxx as Bob Marley? Leave a comment or post in the World Music forum!
Personally, I was beyond impressed at Foxx's portrayal of Ray Charles in 2004's Ray, and I think he'll do justice to Marley as well. I also think a movie of this magnitude could bring about a resurgence of interest in reggae music... especially if Kanye West samples a Jamie-Foxx-as-Bob-Marley hook, as he did with Gold Digger. I don't think a new crowd of reggae fans is a bad thing... what do you think?
More About Bob Marley:
What do you think about the choice of Jamie Foxx as Bob Marley? Leave a comment or post in the World Music forum!
Comments
So Jamie has decided to spend the rest of his retirement playing someone else in movies? Bob Marley must be turning in his grave.
What next, Jamie Foxx portraying Jimi Hendrix? John Lee Hooker? Nina Simone, maybe?
I truly think this is a horrible, horrible idea! This is what Hollywood does, they search for the big names for the BIG budgets but forget that the story is what is most important. The legend of Bob Marley is something to be respected and brought to people who know and whom do not know him with class not made a mockery by picking some actor from hollywood because he could portray another singer well. Besides Jamie Foxx isn’t even mullatto… At least get someone who can more justly be seen as a possible relative to Marley himself. It’s as bad as when Flex played Michael Jackson
Wow, people who didnt know Mr. Marley
commenting on the concept, of the person who knew him the best, Rita. If she approves of Foxx, then you better believe she felt he will respectfully do justice to the role.
That’s a great point, Damaja. The plans for the movie are, from what I understand, being very closely watched by Rita, and frankly, I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. She may also be being realistic, knowing that more people will get to hear Marley’s story if a big-name actor plays him than if a smaller-time guy is the leading man. And, as far as I’m concerned, Jamie Foxx has yet to disappoint me in terms of acting ability. Nope, maybe he doesn’t look just like Marley (particularly concerning skin tone), but Marley was a staunch advocate for erasing “color lines” in the world… I can’t imagine skin color being an objection that would even pop into Marley’s head.
Yes, but tell the story and leave the commercialism out of it. Bob was so not commercial, and anyone who knows about Bob knew the man was as real as real can get. So, people would come to see the story because they want to know about Bob, not to see the black flava of the month actor. Rita, be true to the legacy of your husband. Money never changed Bob, so telling his story to make money is wrong. You mean to tell me that there is not a Jamaican actor in Jamaica — or even not one of his son could be chosen to play such an icon and Jamaica’s most famous son? Y’all trippin. Yes, Jamie is a good actor, but come on folk, this is a stretch and just plain wrong. Jamie is no Sidney Poitier. Just like they messed up Terry McMillan’s Stella by casting a non-Jamaican like Taye Diggs. It just lost so much in the translation of the story. I just wish they’d get authentic Jamaican actors to play Bob. Bob was too real. The money will be made, especially when you keep it real. People are tired of the overmarketed, overexposed celebrities of Jamie is fast becoming one. It’s just plain wrong and I hope the Jamaicans protect their son’s legacy by protesting this choice. You could never use Bob and commercialism in any context in the same sentence. Sorry, try again.
Yes, Damaja, Rita knew him BEST, but she’s not the ONLY one who knew him. Bob Marley says his music will live forever because of his music. And when he goes, his children will be making music. And they are. Just because Rita has control of the pursestrings, people with money usually want more money. Let us ask his children how they feel about Jamie Foxx playing their father. I googled Mr. B and he seems to be quite the filmmaker, though I’ve seen nothing that he has done. But not even seeing his work, but knowing he and Rita made this decision makes me question their motive for choosing Jamie Foxx out of all the Jamaican actors in the world, and his sons, who look, sound and probably could act like Bob to make it more authentic. People are tired of seeing commercial garbage. Then you have the Ethiopian Church and other Rastafariansd who will surely stand up and defend the legacy of Bob Marley, even if the filmmaker and Rita don’t have a clue. Bob’s music is being played all over the world because of its lasting messages. Now is not the time to trivialize Bob or his memory or legacy.
Respect to the Marley Family-
Its hard to call right now.
no matter who plays Bob,
the story wont be good to me
unless they speak on the
teachings of H I M.
Yes, its the story of Bob Marley
but who Bob Marley was was a RASTA.
Most High- Please dont let this
sink our ship?
SELAH
Either way……………………
Fallen is BABYLON-
BABYLON THE GREAT HAS FALLEN!
and what happened to
Rohan and Lauryn playing
Bob and Rita?
I saw a web page displaying
the early efforts in creating
the movie. They seem like a
perfect fit for the roles.
Besides, Jamie Foxx looks nothing
like Bob. I hope he doesnt ruin the image that was already perfect-
Praises to THE KING
RAS TAFARI
Sure they dont resemble which is fine, but what about the Patois? Please don\’t tell me you think Foxx can pull of Bob speech.. first off, I udnerstand why people are saying foxx MAY pull it off, because of Ray. i think that was his chance to shine and he was made for that role. but Foxx is NOT going to convince us real West Indians that he is one of us. I can careless about how good he is at imitating “Jamaicans”. I\’ve seen him doing impressions and while they were funny they wern\’t authentic. Now, I can understand if he resembled Bob but was american. But he\’s American and doesn\’t even have the complexion. Now, I know some people may think us vain and judgemental because they movie isn\’t made yet, but this movie is exposing Jamaican culture. it is exposing Jamaican speech, and a way of life, and with all the sons bob has, why not allow them to engluf themselves in the film? Is Foxx gonig to be the actor in every great black movie? Come on! As a Jamaican, I am happy a Bob movie is coming out, but I am NOT happy that they chose someone who can\’t even chat Patois the way bob did. I have a problem with that, and if I have to contact Rita to do so, I will. I think Foxx will try his best and it may not be so bad, b/c he is talented, but as I said, Bob\’s sons (WHO SOUND LIKE BOB, AND ARE RASTAS, AND KNOW HOW FI CHAT PATOIS) are better candidates. If they need acting classes, let them take it, but it will turn out more believable.
I think Mos Def should have been playing this role. I have heard he was originally supposed to, god knows why it didn’t stay that way. Beyond the fact he has the acting chops and the pure charisma that bob did but the two actually look alike and he CAN do the patois.
jamie playing aretha franklin is a better fit …this is TERRIBLE…
ps. im jamaican and i find it offensive
I too find Jamie Fox as a choice to portray Bob Marley, purely insane and offensive. It really saddens me to think of Brother Bob’s memory being sullied by the Hollywood machine.
As a most sincere and impassioned Bob Marley fan, I would rather have no movie than this. I think that an actor with a respect for the prophetic nature of Bob Marley’s message and some sort of connection to the struggle of impoverished people, as well as an ability to speak patois, would be a more appropriate choice.
This is just sad.
While I agree with most of you that Foxx is a bad choice, it is not the worst thing that could happen. A better choice would be a native Jamaican so that the accent won’t be as forced. But for the movie itself, I feel that as long as they portray Bob and his ideas as he did in his lyrics then the movie could be good for the concepts that Marley was trying to spread throughout the world. Peace, Love and Unity.
I don’t know whether to vomit or laugh, Jamie Foxx did do a great Ray, but Marley?
heres some reason on why I say no to Foxx and this movie
1. The most obvious, is HE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE BOB!
2.This movie is nothing but an exploitation of Marley.
3.The weinstein company is ripping off John (Black Beatles Project) infringing upon his rights and ideas
4. No movie will EVER do The Wailers (Marley/Tosh/Livingston) justice!
5. I have the upmost respect for Rita Marley, but she has been selling out her husbands name and image for 20 odd years! I.E Massage/Resorts in his husbands name
6.If your gonna get someone to Portray Marley get Ky-Mani Marley! He’s an actor! He is a spinng image of his father!
7. This movie will further destroy Bobs image , with all the suburban “Trustafarians” already fogging up his image at a coffee shop.
I agree with 83% of these comments. I think that Bob Marley would be best portray by his Damien Marley as they look similar enough. Also, why was Rita Marley even thinking of casting Jamie Foxx???? I mean sure, he did a wonderful portrayel of Ray Charles, but he was a Black American through and through! Jamie Foxx doesn’t look like Bob, can’t talk thr lingo and has no idea what spritual and political struggle Jamaica has gone through in the past century.
For me, Damien Marley would be by far the best choice to play the role.
Rita Marley needs to listen to Redemtion Song and remember what her husband was all about - Fighting for the people of Jamaica, trying to find peace within his country, and spreading the word of Rastafari.
Respect his memory, what he stood for and the legacy that still burns brightly in the hearts of Rastafari around the world.
Also, being Jamaican and Rastafarian, I find the thought of using Jamie Foxx to portray the great Bob Marley offensive.
No, NO, NO, I’m sure some Caribbean person
can be found to potray Bob in an authentic manner. Apart from his talent,Bob had a HUGH
persona and presence….and those penetrating and intense eyes…Jamie just can’t cut it, no matter how great his Ray Charles performance.
MORE AUDITIONS PLEASE!