The Sublime biopic has secured its Bradley Nowell, as “Riverdale” star KJ Apa takes on the role of the Long Beach band’s lead singer, Variety has confirmed.

The film has also secured director Justin Chon, who is crafting 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 passed away in 1996 from a heroin overdose, Gaugh and Wilson joined forces with singer Rome Ramirez and toured as Sublime With Rome from 2009 to 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 also appears in the Amazon motorcycle drama “One Fast Move” and the upcoming romantic comedy “Falling.” His other film credits include “Songbird,” “The Last Summer” and “The Hate U Give.”

Chon wrote, directed, and starred in “Blue Bayou,” featuring Alicia Vikander, and “Gook,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Lawrence was originally set to direct but had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts.

Apa is represented by UTA, Luber Roklin Entertainment, Mandy Jacobsen, Red 11 Management and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein. Chon is represented by WME, Theresa Kang of Blue Marble Management, and McKuin Frankel. Hundreds is represented by UTA, Theresa Kang of Blue Marble Management, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.