Studio bosses at Magnolia Pictures have marked what would have been Bob Marley's 67th birthday by acquiring the U.S. distribution rights to Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald's documentary about the late reggae legend.
The Last King of Scotland filmmaker signed up to take charge of the first Marley family-sanctioned film about the Exodus hitmaker last year (11) and he was granted access to rare and unseen footage from their private archives for inclusion in the documentary, titled Marley.
The late icon's son Ziggy Marley, who serves as an executive producer on the project, says, "This documentary is the ultimate revelation of my father's life. The family is proud to be able to have the world finally experience this emotional journey."
Marley will receive its world premiere at Germany's upcoming Berlin International Film Festival, which kicks off on 9 February (12). It will open in U.S. theatres on 20 April (12).
Ironically, the release date of 4/20 is a reference to cannabis culture, of which Marley was a big advocate.
Bob Marley would have turned 67 on Monday (06Feb12).
MacDonald won the 2000 Best Documentary Oscar for his film One Day in September.