Ziggy Marley tells the secrets of the success of his father’s film, Bob Marley

Several people had approached Ziggy Marley and his family for years with ideas on how to turn the reggae icon’s life around Bob Marley in a movie. But they never felt completely right until a few years ago, when they decided to take the reins of the project into their own hands.

“It was just a feeling,” Ziggy Marley said of bringing his father’s life to the screen in a recent interview with the Associated Press. “We explored it without knowing that we absolutely wanted to do it, because we had to make sure that the people we were doing it with were the right ones. People who respected what we wanted to do, the culture, the authenticity we wanted.”

This time, he said, they found the right partners. But it was a gamble for everyone: for Paramount Pictures and the other producers, for example Brad Pitt, who wanted to do the story of Bob Marley, his music and his message well and worried about what would happen if they didn’t. For Kingsley Ben-Adir it was about stepping into the shoes of an icon, for the family and friends who extracted memories of him it was the most intimate of stories. And for director Reinaldo Marcus Green it was about putting it all together and making it sing.

Early signs suggest that the public approved of the outcome. Bob Marley, the legend It’s only been in theaters for a few days, but it’s already making waves at the box office. On its opening day alone, it grossed $14 million in the United States and Canada, a record for a midweek debut on Valentine’s Day. As of Sunday, it had already earned about $80 million worldwide. Although reviews were mixed, ticket buyers responded enthusiastically, giving the film, made on a $70 million budget, top scores in exit polls.

“It’s a very gratifying confirmation of what we set out to do,” said Mike Ireland, co-president of Paramount Motion Picture Group. “The audience is the final arbiter of every film and everything you put into the world. And who respond that way? “It’s just amazing.”

The film focuses on a specific period in Bob Marley’s life, from 1976 to 1978. During that time of political turmoil in Jamaica, the reggae legend survived an assassination attempt and produced his classic album. Exodus During an 18-month exile in London, he was diagnosed with cancer and returned to Jamaica to reunite with his family and stage the famous concert One Love.

“I’m a movie lover,” said Ziggy Marley, who has won numerous Grammy Awards. “My selfish goal was to make a film that had entertainment and action. I told them, “I don’t want a boring movie.” And this period of time was the most active and fun.”

The story and screenplay derive from the stories of Ziggy Marley and the legend’s widow, Rita Marley, played in the film by Lashana Lynch, as well as others who knew him well. They filmed on location in the UK and Jamaica, where they worked with locals in front of and behind the camera, many of whom had personal or at least second-hand connections to Bob Marley.

For Green, one of the biggest challenges with a film like this was getting the Jamaican Creole language right and making it sound real without watering it down. They were, she said, essentially making a foreign-language film, but without subtitles. It’s just one of the crucial ways in which the cast and crew, mostly Jamaican, added texture and legitimacy to everything.

“Elected, I would say, 98% Jamaicans,” Green said. “We also have real musicians. Create that authentic feeling. You don’t feel like you’re watching actors trying to play music. You have real music performed by real musicians.

Studios and production companies relied heavily on the local government and the Film Commission to help film in Trench Town and recreate Bob Marley’s home exactly as it was.

“You have to get the blessing of the Jamaican people first for something like that, you know?”, said Ziggy Marley. “We couldn’t do it without Jamaica.”

And everyone hopes that they have contributed to the film infrastructure of the country. It’s no surprise that the film now holds the record for the biggest opening day in Jamaica’s history, surpassing it Black Panther.

On everyone’s mind was to honor Bob Marley, starting with the music that most audiences will know and expect, as well as delving into the private and interior life of an extraordinary figure. Ben-Adir learned to sing and play the guitar, which he did while filming under the direction of Ziggy Marley, who wanted an artistic interpretation and not an exact copy. The final film combines Ben-Adir’s voice with archival recordings.

“Kingsley did a good job,” Ziggy Marley said. “He did the work. “He really studied.”

Sometimes, when families and estates are involved in the biographical process, life can become diluted and perfected. But Ziggy Marley and his family were very clear about wanting to show a real person, flaws and all. And who better to lead the process and large-scale recreations of famous concerts than someone who is also an acclaimed musician in his own right?

Ziggy Marley hopes the film will make “people feel like part of the family, part of the team, part of the band,” he said. “Now you are here. You’re not an outside fan.”

But above all, he said, it’s about the message.

“We are highlighting the idea of ​​the unity of humanity, of one love for people,” he said. “That’s what we’re most proud of, that we’re serving a purpose.”