Culture

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.

Fat Joe is taking his charismatic storytelling to cable TV.

The Bronx MC’s weekly interview series Fat Joe Talks with STARZ is set to premiere Friday, Oct. 4 and his first guest will be fellow rap legend Method Man. They’ll be talking about the Staten Island rapper’s storied rap career and his successful transition into Hollywood as the two legends visit hometown landmarks that are meaningful to him. Method Man currently stars in Power Book II: Ghost as lawyer Davis MacLean, a role that has earned him three NAACP Image Awards.

In a press release, Joe shared his excitement in having the opportunity to host his talk show. “I’ve been preparing all my life for the moment to host my own show and it’s finally here,” he said. “We are going to make history and I’m grateful to STARZ, Embassy Row and SpringHill for believing in the vision. I’m looking forward to showing another side of my personality and having compelling conversations with some of the world’s most influential leaders and entertainers. Get your popcorn ready.”

He’s made a name for himself as a storyteller over the years, especially on social media where his breakdowns of events like the epic Verzuz between The LOX and The Diplomats have gone viral and turned into memes; most notably the saying, “Yesterday’s price is not today’s price.”

Fat Joe Talks is executive produced by Fat Joe, LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Philip Byron, and Jamal Henderson for SpringHill, along with Michael Davies for Embassy Row. Some of the featured guests will include Mary J. Blige, Democratic House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, T.I., Babyface, Latto, Buju Banton, and Remy Ma, with more to be announced soon.

New episodes will be released every Friday on the STARZ app at midnight and will premiere on linear television at 9 p.m. ET with a runtime of 30 minutes.