WEINSTEINS OPTION 'NO WOMAN NO CRY': HILL MAY STAR AS MARLEY WIDOW (VAR, THR, SCR)

By Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte

The Weinstein Co. has optioned rights to "No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley," by the reggae star's widow Rita Marley. Plans are to develop and produce a biopic about the legendary Jamaican singer with an eye to shooting in early 2009 for an anticipated late 2009 release.

Published by Hyperion in 2004, the book chronicles the couple's tempestuous marriage, which began in 1966 and weathered numerous separations and affairs, the birth of four children together (Marley may have fathered as many as 22 in all, 10 legally recognized) and an assassination attempt in 1976, notes Variety.

Bob Marley died of cancer at 35 in 1981.

"It's an amazing love story between Bob and Rita," said TWC's Michael Cole.

"This is about a girl from the ghetto and a boy from the rural areas," Marley said. "It's more than being a superstar - we have trod the rocky roads. It's more than just a story, it's a reality."

Rudy Langlais will produce the script by Lizzie Borden. Rita Marley will exec produce. Some of the project will be filmed in Jamaica, though other locations will be used to take advantage of tax rebates.

The producers are currently casting and expect to announce the director shortly. Marley reportedly hopes that Bob�s daughter-in-law, Lauryn Hill, will portray her onscreen.

"Lauryn would be ideal [to play me]" said Marley, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Her husband's son with Janet Hunt, Rohan, is married to the singer. "She sees my life as her life,� Marley commented.

Bob Marley will be played by two actors, one portraying him at age 15 and another as an adult.

Marley said prior offers and creative teams over the years hadn't been satisfactory. Warner Bros. had optioned Timothy White's "Catch a Fire" as the basis of a Marley biopic, which was slated for a 1999 start.

But that film started to fall apart after Ron Shelton, who wrote the adaptation and was its initial director, left the project, as did replacement helmer George Armitage.

The news follows last month�s announcement that Martin Scorsese will direct a documentary on Marley with Ziggy Marley co-producing.

Related Links

TWC options 'No Woman No Cry' (VAR)
Rita Marley to produce Bob Marley biopic (THR)
TWC pacts with Rita Marley for dramatic film of her life (SCR, sub)