WITH a recent open casting call for young Bob and Rita Marley for Paramount Pictures’ biopic of the reggae king, his son Julian Marley is hoping that his dad’s values will be correctly portrayed.

“I hope it gets across the messages of righteousness, justice, love and unity. I hope it shows what Bob Marley really stands for and make it transcend to all nations, cause it’s all about the message. Give thanks for the music our father did. Anything that he put out, you know that there is some positivity. If you listen to it, you know that you’re getting some spiritual, mental and physical upliftment. So, I hope when you watch the movie, you get the same message as when you listen the music,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

The yet-to-be-titled film will be directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, best known for the Oscar-nominated movie King Richard, based on the life of Richard Williams, father of tennis greats Serena and Venus Williams.

Rita, Marley’s widow, as well their children Cedella and Ziggy Marley, are producers for the project set to be released on January 12, 2024.

The recent open casting call also sought young actors to play the reggae superstar’s kids Stephen, Cedella, Ziggy, and Sharon.

Paramount Pictures named British actors Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch to play Bob Marley and Rita Marley in the film. Like Marley, 35-year-old Ben-Adir has biracial parents. His mother is a black Trinidadian, while his father is a white Englishman. Lynch, meanwhile, has Jamaican roots.

Julian Marley declined to comment on the selection of the British actors to play the role.

Meanwhile, Julian Marley said he is still enjoying a career boost from his 2021 hit song So High.

“I’ve been getting great feedback from it. I’ve been doing it live, so the crowd loves it. Obviously, we get a lot of love on the radio and from different media outlets. Musically, I’ve been getting a lot of love and we haffi give thanks again fi the support,” he said.

So High is featured on the various artistes compilation Reggae Vaccine, released in June via Contractor Music Group. It was produced by Richard Roache.

Recently, So High peaked at number two on the US iTunes reggae singles chart and the Amazon reggae singles chart in Germany.

Julian Marley’s 2019 album — As I Am — was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category.