Last week the NY Post’s Page 6 reported that Jonathan Demme has left his position as the director of Marley, a documentary about Bob Marley, reggae music’s best-known artiste. He is the second director to quit the film in the past year.

Marley‘s theatrical release was originally planned for February 6, 2010, to coincide with the deceased Jamaican singer’s 65th birthday.

Demme was the 2nd director on the Bob Marley biopic, following Martin Scorsese. Scorsese’s initial involvement created high hopes for the film, given his previous success with Shine a Light, the 2008 documentary about the Rolling Stones and his critically-acclaimed 2005 documentary, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan.

The Marley family echoed movie fans’ anticipation of Scorsese’s involvement. Bob Marley‘s son Ziggy Marley said, “I am thrilled that the Marley family will finally have the opportunity to document our father’s legacy and are truly honoured to have Mr. Scorsese guide the journey.”

Marley’s future became less certain when Scorsese left the project in May 2009, vaguely citing “scheduling conflicts” as the reason. Demme joined shortly thereafter as his replacement.

Demme had similar musical documentary credits, having directed a Neil Young documentary. Reggae icon Ziggy Marley, one of the movie’s executive producers, matched his earlier statements about Scorsese, this time praising Demme and saying that “his empathy with my father’s body of work and his unique understanding of the musical documentary form makes me confident that this film will be the ultimate celebration of my father’s life.”

But Jonathan Demme was only involved for less than 4 months, casting further doubt on the project. The Post reports that Demme’s departure wasn’t entirely voluntary: Steve Bing, the movie’s producer, did not like Demme’s initial edits and decided to find new talent. Bing has not made any statements regarding his decision’s impact on the Bob Marley documentary’s release date, but some sources have begun speculating that production will be halted until a new director is named.

Bob Marley died of cancer nearly 30 years ago, in 1981. His family has authorized this latest Marley documentary, one of many that have been released over the years. There have also been talks of a Hollywood movie about Bob Marley‘s life, most recently including a talent search at Kingston, Jamaica’s Countryside Club in the late 1990s. More recently, in early 2008 there were plans produce another Bob Marley documentary based on Rita Marley‘s book No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley.

In spite of the documentary’s recent troubles, Bob Marley‘s brand is one pop culture’s big earners, generating more than US$1 billion per year, according to Canadian marketing company Hilco (which was recently given licenses to release a new line of Marley products).

Related dub & reggae news:

1. Bob Marley posters – why are they popular? Bob Marley‘s popularity has outlived his reggae music, his tour dates, and even his life. Some people think that...
2. Smile Jamaica 2010 Bob Marley concert canceled Ghetto Youth’s International, organizers of the annual Bob Marley concert Smile Jamaica, have announced that the 2010 staging of...
3. I and I BOB MARLEY book 27% discount I just got an email from Reggae Festival Guide that their subscribers are receiving 27% off the cover price...
4. Caribbean Festival 2010 from Bob Marley Movements of Jah People [ February 27, 2010; 12:00 am to 11:30 pm. ] The 17th annual Bob Marley Movements of Jah People Caribbean...
5. The VP Records Story – video documentary The VP Records, perhaps the leading contemporary reggae label, recently released this video documentary of their history, including their...