Over 2,000 Jamaicans were directly employed in the cast and production of the “Bob Marley: One Love” biopic, according to the CEO of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon, Brian Robbins.
In a pre-screening speech at Carib 5 Theater 1, renamed “One Destiny,” Robbins, who flew into the island for the premiere accompanied by his spouse Tracy James, said, “Everyone at Paramount is so honored to have worked alongside the Marley family to bring this story of Bob’s message of love, peace, and unity to the big screen. We are very proud.”
“We truly could not have done this film without the people of Jamaica. In front of and behind the camera, we were able to employ over 400 Jamaican cast and crew, and more than 1,800 background actors to deliver 25 days of filming on the island,” he continued.
When WMV inquired about the budget of the major motion picture which was shot on location in Jamaican and the U.K. with Paramount’s Los Angeles office on Wednesday, we were told that the information is not yet made public. However, Robins said Paramount made significant investments outside of filming “Bob Marley: One Love” in Trench Town, the backdrop of Bob’s childhood.
“Our partnership with the people of Kingston has resulted in some of our significant local investment ever, centered in the Trench Town community that so graciously welcomed us. This included the construction of an outdoor learning pavilion and security booths at the Trench Town Primary school,” the Hollywood executive said.
Jason Koerner/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
“Bob Marley: One Love,” directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and starring British actors Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, hits theaters worldwide on February 14, 2024.
Kingston, Jamaica, was home to the first premiere, which saw a star-studded red carpet lineup, including Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
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Leading up to the film’s release, several Jamaicans, including Bob Marley’s son Ky-Mani Marley, thought the lead role should be undertaken by a Jamaican. Ky-mani, who starred in a previous movie sharing the title “One Love,” in 2003, written by legendary playwright Trevor D. Rhone even nominated himself.
“Nuhbody cyaan play my father better than me; unless ah one ah mi bredda dem, yuh know wha’ ah mean?” Marley told the Jamaica Observer in 2022. “But Bob Marley being from Jamaica, why any of di children or grandchildren were never given di opportunity to even audition?”
Ky-Mani, who was present at the premiere on Tuesday, January 23, in Jamaica, also said Ben-Adir is a good actor but questioned why it couldn’t be a Jamaican that played the lead role. “I’m not taking anything away from this British actor at all. All di credits to him same way, but why we couldn’t find someone in Jamaica? There are so many talented actors and actresses in Jamaica, how come we didn’t search that pool of actors there?” he asked.
Theatre producer Lenford Salmon, who is an advisor to Jamaica’s Minister Of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sports, shares the opposite view of Ky-Mani’s 2022 sentiments. “The movie is more than talent. Also about the look and vision the director has for the role. It’s a complex issue.”
“Bob was universal, even in his world view and was embraced by the world. It would have been good to have a Jamaican playing Bob and Rita. But truth be told that only matters to 3 million people in Jamaica. Not to the other billions across the world,” Salmon continued.
Jamaican playwright and producer Basil Dawkins expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “if there is the required skill competence and likeness, by all means, is that Jamaican, but if what is required is not in and of Jamaica, then use the best available likeness with the requisite skills, experience, and competence.”
The “Bob Marley: One Love” will have its next premiere in Paris on January 28, then London on January 30, and a final Hollywood Red Carpet premiere in Los Angeles on February 6.
