The Weinstein Co. has optioned film rights to the book "No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley," written by the reggae star's widow Rita Marley, with plans to develop and produce a biopic about the legendary Jamaican singer.

According to Variety, the book chronicles the couple's tempestuous marriage, which began in 1966 and weathered numerous separations and affairs, the birth of four children together (Marley may have fathered as many as 22 in all, 10 legally recognized) and an assassination attempt in 1976.

Bob Marley died of cancer at 36 in 1981, and in the book, Rita Marley defends herself against accusations that she financially mismanaged the estate.

"This is about a girl from the ghetto and a boy from the rural areas," Marley said. "It's more than being a superstar -- we have trod the rocky roads. It's more than just a story, it's a reality."

The project is in early development, with a late 2009 release date anticipated.