KJ Apa will play late Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell, who died at age 28 from a heroin overdose in 1996, in a biopic directed by Justin Chon.
The 27-year-old actor will play the singer-songwriter in a film that includes Sublime members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, Nowell’s widow Troy Dendekker and Nowell’s son (and new Sublime singer) Jakob Nowell as executive producers. Deadline reported Thursday.
Chon and Bobby Hundreds are writing the script, which is based on a draft by Chris Mundy, for 3000 Pictures, the outlet reported.
The Long Beach, California-based band, which integrated elements of ska, punk and reggae into its material, rose to fame in the mid-1990s with hits such as What I Got, Santeria and Wrong Way, and the bulk of its commercial success came after Bradley’s death in San Francisco on May 25, 1996.
The Auckland, New Zealand native “spent nearly two years pursuing this role once he heard about the project,” sources told the outlet.
KJ Apa, 27, is attached to play late Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell in a biopic directed by Justin Chon. Pictured in Los Angeles earlier this year
Nowell photographed on stage in New York in April 1996, about a month before he died of a heroin overdose on May 25, 1996.
The actor, who played heartthrob Archie Andrews on the CW’s modern Archie Comics adaptation Riverdale from 2017 to 2023, had multiple meetings and auditions for the role, and “producers and executives realized it was a perfect fit,” the outlet reported.
Apa, who appeared in Prime Video’s One Fast Move last month, received a formal offer to play the role after Nowell’s estate approved the casting call.
Many music and film fans speculated about Apa and the film on X/Twitter and Reddit.
“KJ Apa’s efforts have to be respected,” one user said. “The fact that he’s been pursuing this role for almost two years shows how much it means to him. If that’s the energy he brings on screen, this biopic is going to be something special!”
Another fan said: “KJ Apa really gave his all to this role! Two years of dedication and persistence? That kind of passion is exactly what a biopic like Sublime needs.”
One fan suggested the role could be a critical crossroads in Apa’s career after Riverdale ended last year.
“Most of his fellow Riverdale cast members have been doing pretty well while he’s been missing,” the user said. “This could either get him back on track or lose him.”
One user suggested that Jakob Nowell should have filled in for his late father in the biopic: “Probably his son could have played him…”
The Long Beach, California-based band, which integrated elements of ska, punk and reggae into its timeless material, was photographed in New York in 1995.
The Auckland, New Zealand native, pictured in 2019, “spent nearly two years chasing this role once he heard about the project.”
Nowell’s son and new Sublime singer Jakob Nowell is one of the film’s executive producers. Pictured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in July
Fans on X/Twitter were divided over the news of Apa’s casting as the late musical artist.
Several Sublime fans commented on the upcoming film on Reddit.
A fan of Sublime Reddit Page I asked Apa, “Can he sing? Can he play guitar? Can he make us believe he’s Bradley Nowell for more than 90 minutes? Seriously. I have no idea who this guy is, but my girlfriend said he plays Archie on Riverdale.”
One fan in the thread wondered how the film’s story will play out, with the band’s unconventional path to fame following Nowell’s death.
“Honest question: what exactly is this movie going to be about?” the user said. “Aside from drugs and fame, Bradley seemed to lead a pretty normal life. I can’t imagine they’d make a movie about an up-and-coming party band.
“Are they just going to show them partying until the end? Maybe there are more ‘side stories’ to Sublime’s story, however, I feel like I’ve read and seen it all and can’t see how it will be made into a movie.”
Another user predicted in response that the film “will be just like any other musical biopic,” documenting elements such as “humble beginnings, rise, drugs, fall (and) redemption.”
“It may still be fun to watch, like Bohemian Rhapsody, but there’s very little to cover. I’d be interested to see it, because in my opinion there’s very little official documentation about the band.”