See Chadwick Boseman’s final performance in the first ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ trailer [Video]
When Chadwick Boseman passed away in August, he left behind a rich legacy of big-screen Black heroes… as well as one last performance. In the summer of 2019 â one year before his death from colon cancer â the actor filmed what became his final role in Netflixâs new drama, Ma Raineyâs Black Bottom, opposite Viola Davis. âI got my time coming to me,â Boseman remarks during the just-released first trailer for the film, which premieres on the streaming service on Dec. 18. Based on early predictions, his family mostly likely has a posthumous Oscar statue coming home to them. (Watch the trailer above.)
Davis â who plays the real-life âMother of the Bluesâ â is obviously in the awards conversation as well for her star turn in the film, which has been adapted from August Wilsonâs celebrated 1982 play by Tony-winning director George C. Wolfe and playwright, Ruben Santiago-Hudson. (Denzel Washington is involved as a producer, having previously directed the 2016 film version of Wilsonâs play, Fences, that won Davis her first Best Actress statue.) Set in 1920s-era Chicago, the story chronicles a tempestuous recording session during which Ma Rainey frequently butts heads with Bosemanâs ambitious trumpet player, Levee. Unlike the rest of the backing band, Levee isnât shy about expressing his frustration with the singerâs working methods or her brand of blues. âI know howâs to play real music, not this jug-band s***,â he tells his bandmates.
Besides teasing the dramatic clash between acting titans Davis and Boseman, the trailer also suggests that Ma Raineyâs Black Bottom will feature timely commentary on the exploitation of Black artists, with both Levee and Ma Rainey fighting to control the direction of their careers in the face of recording industry indifference. Weâre also awarded glimpses of several rumpus-raising musical sequences that appear to be in the tradition of Wolfeâs pioneering production numbers in Broadway blockbusters like Jellyâs Last Jam and Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk.
But itâs Bosemanâs presence thatâs understandably resonating the most on Twitter. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood â who directed this summerâs Netflix hit, The Old Guard â led the chorus of praise for the actorâs final bow.
Itâs going to be really difficult to say goodbye to Chadwick in this film. But this film looks like it couldnât be a better ending to his amazing legacy. Rest in power, Chadwick Boseman. pic.twitter.com/ozrnroVx2Q
â Julian: into the Julian-Verse | BLM (@cooljulian5) October 19, 2020
Davis echoed the latter sentiment in a new interview with Deadline, where she spoke movingly about her collaboration with Boseman. âNot to compete with Chadwickâs mother, but he was my baby,â she said. âChadwick was an artist. That is just what he wasâŠÂ he loved it, he demanded it in every single way. For someone so young it was incredible to watch.â
Ma Raineyâs Black Bottom premieres Dec. 18 on Netflix.
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