Bounty Killer All Set To Star In His First Movie Role
Dancehall’s Warlord Bounty Killer can soon add ‘actor’ to his accolades as he’s all set to appear in his first movie. DancehallMag confirmed that the 5 Star General scored the starring role in an upcoming crime drama set in Jamaica. The Grammy Award winner, advocate and philanthropist makes his big-screen debut in the yet-untitled film focusing on social and political issues, causes that pervade his vast catalogue.
While production details are limited at this time, Sosiessia Nixon, Head of Film & Television at iKon Media Jamaica told DancehallMag that Bounty was “excited to come on board based on the concept”.
Nixon, who’s an accomplished screenwriter and director, stated that the idea for the film came from her partner, Mr. Nigel Dixon, who felt Bounty was the ideal candidate from the jump. “Based on the story that he had in his head, he specifically said ‘I would want Bounty Killer to play this part’. So because of his relationship with Bounty Killer, he [directly] pitched the story to Bounty. Bounty liked the story and he was excited for the new challenge,” Nixon told DancehallMag.
She also gave a synopsis of what fans can expect on the silver screen. “The story is a criminal drama that basically follows the life of a youth after he’s found a gun. The aim of the story is really to show youths and persons in general that a life of crime is really not worth it. With the positive message attached to the film, Bounty was more than happy to come on board,” Nixon said. She added that the movie script is still in early development, and that while neither a full cast or crew had been selected, “we just knew who we wanted to play the lead and we have settled that part.”
Nixon was unable to say whether Bounty would feature on the film’s soundtrack but reiterated that the project was “very much relatable” to the Poor People Governor’s story.
At age 14, Bounty Killer nearly fell victim to the gun violence he would later document so thoroughly in his music. While walking home from school, he was hit by a stray bullet from a gun battle between rival political factions. Fortunately, he made a full recovery, and soon began performing under the name Bounty Hunter. But the nascent star’s lyrics took an increasingly confrontational tone. By the time Bounty scored his breakout hits in 1992, the biggest of which was the grimy cut Copper Shot, he changed his name to the fiercer and more fearsome Bounty Killer.
With production likely to get underway in 2022, Bounty’s movie role and ramped-up itinerary coincides with yet another milestone — his 50th birthday next year. In December, the deejay drops his 12th studio album King of Kingston album, his first in almost two decades. The long-awaited album has an even longer list of features, and is executive produced by Damian Jr. Gong Marley.
Bounty will also headline the Sunclash meets Shutdown event with Beenie Man in Ibiza, Spain which was moved to May next year due to COVID-19 concerns.
Ahead of his new album, the Look deejay also landed a joint-publishing deal with Florida-based talent management company Creative Titans and Beverley Hills music company Concord Music Publishing. The agreement which makes Bounty a proprietor of his music will only propel his career, granting him greater reach globally and access to royalties.