Lauryn Hill To Star In Bob Marley Biopic?

Lauryn Hill may soon be returning to the big screen as Rita Marley, wife of the late reggae superstar, Bob Marley.

According to Reuters Rita Marley - who will be executive producing the first-ever biopic of her legendary husband - wants her daughter-in-law, Lauryn, to portray her in the film.

When speaking on the former Fugees star playing her in the film, Rita had this to say, "Lauryn would be ideal (to play me). She sees my life as her life."

Based on her 2004 autobiography, No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley the film will be produced by the Weinstein Co. and will chronicle Bob's childhood, the pair's rocky 15-year marriage and his 1981 death from cancer.

The biopic is currently being written by Lizzie Borden (Working Girls), who is in Jamaica completing the script. The yet to be titled project will be produced by Rudy Langlais (The Hurricane).

According to Langlais, the film will be an "epic romance," and will include the couple's life and the assassination attempt on the pair. Langlais said, "It's miraculous that Rita is still here after being shot in the head."

Hill is married to Bob Marley's son with Janet Hunt, Rohan Marley. Rohan is one of Marley's 13 children, several of which are from extramarital affairs.

Rita plans to be on set every day, "Every inch of me is in there," she said, "and I don't want a fairy tale or Cinderella story."

The film will begin shooting early next year and is slated for a late 2009 release.

At least some of the biopic will be filmed in Jamaica and it could arrive before Martin Scorsese's feature documentary on the reggae legend. Scorsese's film is set for release on February 6, 2010, which is also Marley's 65th birthday.

Bob will be played by two actors, one for his early life at age 15 and another as an adult. Rita Marley feels her grandson Stefan is "the spitting image" of the singer and is ideal for the role. Langlais has said that while it will not be a star-driven cast, final decisions will be made late in the year.