<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/james-bond-is-not-a-woman-lashana-lynch-is-not-james-bond-please-all-calm-down-1.887226" target="_blank">Lashana Lynch</a> will reportedly play the wife of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/2021/11/16/the-enduring-legacy-of-bob-marley-and-the-wailers-there-is-medicine-within-the-music/" target="_blank">Bob Marley</a> in a film about the reggae musician's life. The star of 2021 James Bond hit <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/2021/09/29/no-time-to-die-director-says-daniel-craig-was-immensely-impactful/" target="_blank"><i> No Time </i></a><a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/film/2021/09/29/no-time-to-die-director-says-daniel-craig-was-immensely-impactful/" target="_blank"><i>to Die</i></a><i> </i>has been cast as Rita Marley in the as-yet untitled Paramount biopic, according to US entertainment news site <i>Deadline</i>. She will join fellow British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir, who is set to portray the singer. Ben-Adir is known for his roles in <i>The OA, High Fidelity </i>and <i>Peaky Blinders.</i> <i>King Richard</i> director Reinaldo Marcus Green is also reported to be involved with the project. According to <i>Deadline</i>, Rita and the Marley family have given their blessing to the casting decision. Marley died of cancer in 1981 aged 36. He is well known for hits including <i>Get Up, Stand Up, One Love, No Woman, No Cry, </i>and <i>Redemption Song.</i> The untiled project is due to be released in 2024. Since her appearance as Nomi, a 007 agent, in <i>No Time to Die</i>, Lynch has starred in the drama <i>Ear for Eye </i>(2021) and as Captain Marvel in <i>Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness</i> (2022). This year, she will also play Miss Honey in a remake of Roald Dahl classic <i>Matilda </i>and star in <i>The Woman King</i> opposite Viola Davis and John Boyega. On becoming the first female 007 in a Bond film, Lynch told <i>The Guardian</i>: “I think they were just looking for someone who would be able to be a match for Bond. “Who would be able to stand up and be vocal and forthright and strong and able to handle a weapon, able to handle herself and not someone who takes any crap from anybody at all. Then, as it unfolded, she became this quite complicated, free, open-minded vocal human being who brings a really nice twist to MI6.” — <i>Additional reporting from PA</i>