Jamie Foxx is an extremely talented individual. He has done just about everything in the entertainment industry and found success with it. He has done comedy, television, movies, and music and has even won an Oscar for his starring role as Ray Charles. Yet even with all his success, I dont want to see him play the role as Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley.

To many of us, Bob Marley is a music icon. His music and name has resounded and spread throughout the world the last few decades. He is perhaps the most widely known reggae artist in the world today. Much of his music deals with the oppression and poverty of his people but it also spreads the message of hope and unity. His music is timeless and universal and has touched all walks of life.

Back to the casting of Foxx as Bob. I think it would be very difficult for Foxx to “become” Bob Marley. First off, you have to have that authentic Jamaican accent. Do I think Foxx can pull that off? No.

Second, Bob has a very unique look about him. His face, his voice, his hair! The actor has to look like him. Foxx easily was able to look like Ray with the shades, haircut, a nice suit, and a few wrinkles, but the dreadlocks are definately going to be a problem and shades is not an option. We will see Foxx’s face and I can’t see Jamie as a rastafarian. If this movie does take shape (I hope it does not) the actor should definately be Jamaican!

Now for the last and the most important problem I see with this casting. The aura that is Bob Marley. The essence. The soul. It can’t be duplicated. You could argue that many people believe that Bob is similar to a messiah. Come to this earth too spread the message of truth, and lead his people away from the chaos which seems to be our lives today. Bob Marley was a very special individual. One in a billion. You can’t act like a savior. You have to live it. Something I think is too big of a challenge even for a talented actor like Foxx to do.

Articles about Foxx as Marley. (1) (2) (3) (4)