Sublime Biopic Casts KJ Apa as Bradley Nowell

The upcoming Sublime biopic seems to have cast its Bradley Nowell, with Riverdale lead KJ Apa set to play the late singer. Deadline first reported the casting, and Apa reposted the news on his Instagram Stories on Thursday, tagging the film’s director Justin Chon.

The decision comes two years after the biopic was first announced, with I Am Legend and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes director Francis Lawrence executive producing. Ozark Chon is writing the script alongside Bobby Hundreds, based on a first draft from Ozark showrunner Chris Mundy, per Deadline. Original Sublime members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson are producing the film as well, along with Nowell’s son Jakob and widow Troy.

“Wow – we can’t believe this is finally happening and we couldn’t be more honored and excited to have the great Francis Lawrence and Chris Mundy telling our story,” Sublime said in a statement when the film was first announced. “We know Bradley’s talent and spirit will be part of this incredible journey.”

Nowell tragically died of an overdose in 1996 while the band was on tour, abruptly breaking up the group. Sublime has enjoyed a resurgence this year as Jakob took over for his father on vocals, with the band playing their first show in nearly 30 years at Coachella back in April. The group released their first song in 28 years in May. The reunion brought an end to the off-shoot Sublime with Rome, which included singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez, with the group playing their last show at the end of 2024.

“I look at it as like a custodial role,” Jakob told Rolling Stone of stepping into his father’s role. “I’m not Sublime. My uncles Bud and Eric are Sublime. My dad never got to step on that stage, man. My dad never got to sing those songs in front of an audience that big, at Coachella, of people who adore him and his sound and his message. If you were a father, what would you want? And I know what I would want to have happen in that situation. So I have to do what I have to do.”