Sublime Biopic Finds Its Bradley Nowell in ‘Riverdale’ Star KJ Apa

KJ Apa will soon be doin’ time on the set of an upcoming Sublime biopic.

As announced Thursday (Sept. 19), the Riverdale star has been cast to portray the late Bradley Nowell in Justin Chon’s film about the Long Beach band. With a screenplay written by Chon and Bobby Hundreds — based on an original draft from Chris Mundy — the 3000 Pictures flick counts original band members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson as executive producers, along with Nowell’s wife, Troy, and son, Jakob.

Reposting the news on his Instagram Story, Apa expressed his gratitude for the role by simply typing a series of heart emojis.

The casting development comes just a few months after the surviving members of Sublime reunited at Coachella with Jakob performing as lead vocalist in his father’s place. The group disbanded in 1996 when Bradley died of heroin overdose, after which Gaugh and Wilson began performing with Rome Ramirez under the name Sublime With Rome.

“I love you dad,” Jakob reportedly said at the end of their historic set in the desert. “I love each one of you guys.”

Originally formed in California in 1988, Sublime didn’t see a chart breakthrough until shortly after Bradley’s death, when the trio’s self-titled third album reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200. The ska group’s debut LP 40oz. to Freedom subsequently charted, reaching No. 140.

Sublime had just one song make it to the Billboard Hot 100: “Doin’ Time,” which remains one of the trio’s most enduring hits, along with “Santeria.” The song peaked at No. 87 on the chart in 1997; more than 20 years later, Lana Del Rey’s cover of the track hit No. 59 on the ranking.