KJ Apa to Play Bradley Nowell in Sublime Biopic

“Riverdale” star KJ Apa has signed on to play the role of the SoCal band Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell in an upcoming biopic. 

The pic has also tapped director Justin Chon, who is penning the screenplay with author and co-founder of the streetwear brand The Hundreds, Bobby Hundreds, based on an original draft by Chris Mundy. The biopic is in development at the Sony-owned 3000 Pictures.

Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and David Ready from Chernin Entertainment are producing. Original Sublime band members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson — as well as the late Nowell’s wife, Troy Nowell, and son, Jakob Nowell — are executive producing alongside Francis Lawrence. 

The project is being overseen by Marisa Paiva at 3000 Pictures and Jamie Spetner, director of development at Chernin Entertainment, who has been integral to the development of the film.

After Nowell died in 1996 due to a heroin overdose, Gaugh and Wilson teamed up with singer Rome Ramirez and toured as Sublime With Rome from 2009 until 2024. The band underwent multiple lineup changes and embarked on a farewell tour in 2024 with none of the original members of Sublime. 

Meanwhile, Gaugh and Wilson have reunited with Bradley’s 29-year-old son Jakob Nowell to perform once again as Sublime. The band recently played the main stage at Coachella.

Best known for his breakout role in “Riverdale,” Apa is also seen in the Amazon motorcycle drama “One Fast Move” and the upcoming rom-com “Falling.” His other film credits include “Songbird,” “The Last Summer”, and “The Hate U Give.”

Chon wrote, directed and starred in “Blue Bayou,” which featured Alicia Vikander, and “Gook,” which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Lawrence was previously attached to direct but withdrew from the project due to a production schedule conflict.