Riverdale Star to Headline Sublime Biopic

Riverdale Star to Headline Sublime Biopic

As a music enthusiast and a dedicated follower of film biopics, I am thrilled to see KJ Apa take on the role of Bradley Nowell in the upcoming Sublime biopic. Having watched him portray Archie Andrews on Riverdale, his musical abilities are evident, and I have no doubt that he will bring a unique interpretation to the life of the late great Bradley Nowell.


In a forthcoming biopic, Riverdale actor KJ Aapa will portray Bradley Nowell, the former frontman of Sublime, a pioneering band from the early ’90s known for blending punk, reggae, and ska into an iconic sound that produced hit songs such as “What I Got” and “Santeria”. Sadly, Nowell passed away at 28 due to a heroin overdose in 1996. Although he is no longer with us, his influence continues through the band’s enduring achievements, and since 2023, his son Jakob Nowell has taken over as Sublime’s lead vocalist.

As reported by Deadline, Bradley Nowell, known as Apa, is set to take on the role of Nowell in an upcoming movie focusing on Sublime. The original band members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson are set to serve as executive producers for the project, along with Troy Nowell, Bradley’s widow, and his son Jakob, acting on behalf of the Nowell estate. Previously known for playing Eric Yorkie in the Twilight Saga films, Justin Chon is now set to direct and write this film as well.

Not K.J. Apa’s First Musical Biopic

Riverdale Star to Headline Sublime BiopicRiverdale Star to Headline Sublime BiopicRiverdale Star to Headline Sublime BiopicRiverdale Star to Headline Sublime Biopic

In Riverdale, I, KJ Apa, showcased my musical skills as Archie Andrews, where a significant part of his storylines centered around him forming a band and regularly performing on guitar and vocals in the musical episodes. Interestingly, portraying Bradley Nowell isn’t my first time playing a real-life musician in a biopic. In 2020, I starred as Jeffery Camp, a Christian singer, in the faith-based romance film I Still Believe. The movie chronicled Camp’s life and his first wife, Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp, who tragically passed away from ovarian cancer shortly after their marriage. Taking on the role of Bradley Nowell will certainly present a new challenge, but with my musical background and the promise I’ve shown in films like The Hate U Give, I am confident that I can rise to the occasion.

Biographical films about musicians play a significant role in the movie industry, and productions like “Elvis,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Straight Outta Compton” have earned substantial box office revenue comparable to high-budget action and franchise movies based on intellectual properties. These films are also popular with award voters, with titles such as “Walk the Line,” “Ray,” and potentially the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” starring Timothee Chalamet. Following closely is news of the Sublime biopic, while Shailene Woodley has been cast in a long-developing Janis Joplin biopic. It appears this trend will continue to thrive.

Read More

2024-09-23 00:05