The first biopic of reggae legend Bob Marley is in the works. The film is based off of Marley's widow Rita's 2004 autobiography, No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley. The autobiography is mainly about their relationship, but the film is to be filled with much more of Marley's life.

While the film is still in the writing process, screenwriter Lizzie Borden is working alongside Rita, who is serving as the movie’s executive producer so they may encompass all they can of his life.

The film is to include Marley's childhood and the couple's 15-year-long marriage up to Marley's death from cancer in 1981; covering events such as the couples’ affairs and separations, along with the birth of their children and the assassination attempt on Marley's life in 1976.

The film is attempting to show Marley's life and not just his career. "This is about a girl from the ghetto and a boy from the rural areas," Rita told Variety. "It's more than being a superstar; we have trod the rocky roads."

The film, which has not yet been titled, is being produced by The Weinstein Company. Casting will not be determined until later in the year, but ideas have already been flying. Two actors will be needed for the role of Marley, one portraying him at age 15 and another to portray his adult years. Rita would like to see her grandson Stefan play Marley.

He is a "spitting image" of Marley, Rita told Rolling Stone. But others involved in the project would like to see Jamie Foxx as Marley. Rita would also like to see her daughter-in-law Lauryn Hill portray her in the film. "Lauryn would be ideal," Rita told Rolling Stone. "She sees my life as her life."

Filming will begin early next year where they will film on site in Jamaica and in some other locations that have yet to be determined. The film, which is in the early stages of production, is focusing on a hopeful late 2009 release date.

But The Weinstein Co. is not the only company to have ideas about producing a biopic on Marley. Both Warner Bros. and Martin Scorsese have shown interest in the reggae icon.

About a month prior to the news of The Weinstein Co. biopic, director Martin Scorsese announced he would be producing a documentary on Marley. Scorsese's film is to be released on what would have been Marley's sixty-fifth birthday, on Feb. 6, 2010. Warner Bros had previously attempted to produce a documentary on Marley in the late 90's, which would have been based off Timothy White's book Catch a Fire. Marley's son Rohan and his wife Hill were in line to play the roles of Marley and Rita, but the film fell through.