Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which happens to be Chadwick Boseman’s final film, released its first trailer.
Based on August Wilson’s award-winning play of the same name, the film’s set in 1927 Chicago and follows trailblazing blues artist Ma Rainey, played by Viola Davis, and other Black musicians including Boseman who plays Ma’s band member Levee, a trumpeter. The musicians are dealing with race, music, relationship, and Black recording artists being exploited.
Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, and Michael Potts are also in the cast.
Helming the film is George C. Wolfe, the Tony Award-winning director of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk. Producing the film are Todd Black, Denzel Washington, and Dany Wolf, based on the screenwriting by Ruben Santiago-Hudson.
Chadwick Boseman passed away in August this year after battling colon cancer. He never publicly spoke about his diagnosis and during much of his career, he worked through his treatment.
Netflix could push for a posthumous Oscar nomination for Boseman in the supporting category and the late actor may have another for Da 5 Bloods.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will be released on Netflix on December 18. Check out the trailer below.
