Jonathan Demme has boarded the Tuff Gong Pictures/ Shangri-La Entertainment Bob Marley documentary, replacing the previously announced Martin Scorsese as director.
The backers said Scorsese has exited the project due to “scheduling conflicts.”
Demme, who last worked with Shangri-La Entertainment on the acclaimed Neil Young documentary “Heart of Gold,” will join with the Marley family to direct the biopic of the legendary singer songwriter.
Tuff Gong Pictures and Shangri-La Entertainment are producing the picture.
The as-yet-untitled film aims to be released globally on Feb. 6, 2010, the 65th anniversary of Marley’s birth, the producers said. Fortissimo Films is the international sales agent.
The movie’s executive producers include Ziggy Marley.
Demme recently completed work on upcoming Sony Pictures Classics release “Rachel Getting Married,” based on Jenny Lumet’s original screenplay. The director is currently editing “Neil Young Trunk Show,” a new concert film.
