‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ First Look Offers A Glimpse Of Chadwick Boseman In His Final Role
George C. Wolfe’s adaptation ofMa Rainey’s Black Bottom, based on theAugust Wilsonstage play of the same name, was already on track to become one of Netflix’s major 2021 Oscar contenders. However, the tragic passing of starChadwick Bosemanin August has turned it into a memorial of sorts to the late actor, who makes his final feature film appearance in the film. Netflix has released the first images fromMa Rainey’s Black Bottomfeaturing Boseman, as well as co-starsViola Davis, who plays the titular role, andDenzel Washington, both of whom praise Boseman’s performance in the movie as one of the finest of his career. See theMa Rainey’s Black Bottomfirst look photos below.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom First Look
NetflixandThe New York Timesdebuted the first look images from Wolfe’s adaptation ofMa Rainey’s Black Bottom, which stars Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, and Chadwick Boseman in his final feature film role. Bosemandied on August 28 from colon cancerafter keeping his illness hidden for four years, sending shockwaves throughout the world. None were more surprised than hisMa Rainey’sco-stars, who were as in the dark as the rest of us that Boseman was shooting theMa Rainey— as well as other major films likeBlack Panther, Avengers: Endgame, andDa 5 Bloods— while undergoing cancer treatment.
“I think a lot of times, people look at someone’s life backwards,” Davis said. “Now we have the unfortunate knowledge that Chadwick succumbed to cancer at 43, but really, Levee represents so many Black men living in America. What we’re constantly navigating on a day-to-day basis is the trauma of our past — we’re trying to heal from it, we’re even trying to understand that it’s there, and we’re negotiating that with our dreams and who we want to become.”
Washington praised Boseman’s performance in the film, adding, “He did a brilliant job, and he’s gone. I still can’t believe it.”
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottomstars Davis as Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, a professional blues singer who would become known as the “Mother of the Blues.” The film takes place during a single intense recording session in 1920s Chicago, as Ma Rainey fights her manager and producer over control of her music and clashes with her band members.
This is both Davis and Washington’s second time starring in a feature adaptation of an August Wilson play, with the two of them earning accolades (and an Oscar win for Davis) for their performance in 2016’sFences.Glynn Turman,Colman Domingo, andMichael Pottsround out the cast forMa Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottomis set to debutDecember 18, 2020on Netflix.
