Weinsteins also singing Bob Marley's praises

Not even a month ago, we reported that Martin Scorsese's next musical documentary would be an in-depth look at the life and music of Bob Marley which was fully authorized by Marley€™s estate and is set for a release on February 6th 2010, on what would have been the singer€™s 65th birthday. Now comes word from Variety that the Weinsteins are getting in on the Bob Marley bandwagon. They have bought the rights to a biopic novel written by the singer's widow Rita Marley titledNo Women No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley with a late 2009 release date planned. The weeks leading to Marley's 65th anniversary are going to be one big cinematic celebration of the great man...

The book was published four years ago and looks into their often rocky marriage which managed to survive numerous separations and affairs, the birth of their four children admist Marley's mainly claimed "bastard" children and an ill-fated assassination attempt in 1976 is surprisingly described as "an amazing love story". Lizzie Borden, the writer/director of the mid 80's prostitute drama Working Girls and has barely been seen since has turned in the script which was to the liking of Marley's widow who had killed many Bob Marley projects she wasn't happy with in the past. No word on whether the Weinsteins will look to secure the rights to Marley's discography but it's difficult to imagine a movie chronicling his life that doesn't contain his songs. So the question then moves to who will play Marley? When you see what happened to the careers of Jamie Foxx and Joaquin Phoenix (actually, it hasn't helped him so much has it?) for their music biopics in recent years, there's a big opportunity for an actor out there. The obvious choice of course is Will Smith, with his known love for Marley which spurs out into several of his films including his last role in I Am Legend. But maybe he's too obvious. How about the young British actor Chiwetel Eijor...