Chadwick Boseman's Final Film, 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' Is Now on Netflix

From Harper's BAZAAR

Prior to his death, Chadwick Boseman had been working on several movie projects, including the forthcoming Ma Rainey's Black Bottom alongside Viola Davis.

Based upon the play of the same name, Boseman's final film is headed to Netflix on December 18. The official trailer has already arrived. Here's everything you need to know about Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom explores racial tensions in 1920s Chicago.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is based upon the 1982 play of the same name by August Wilson. The story follows the career of the "Mother of the Blues," real-life singer Ma Rainey, played by Viola Davis.

Per her obituary in The New York Times, the singer "was the first entertainer to successfully bridge the divide between vaudeville—the cabaret-style shows that developed out of minstrelsy in the mid-1800s, and catered largely to white audiences—and authentic black Southern folk expression."

The film focuses on Ma Rainey's struggle with her white management team. Boseman plays Levee, a trumpet player forging his own career in the arts. Read an official synopsis from Netflix below.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is produced by Denzel Washington.

Having acted opposite Davis in Fences, also based upon a play by August Wilson, Washington is one of the producers of Netflix's adaptation of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Of Boseman's performance in the movie, Washington told The New York Times, "He did a brilliant job, and he's gone. I still can't believe it."

Viola Davis wasn't sure about taking on the role of Ma Rainey.

Of playing the iconic musician, the How to Get Away with Murder star told The New York Times, "I thought of 50 other actresses before I thought of myself. She's unapologetic, and that extends to her body and the way that she dresses. And trust me—as Viola, in my life, I don't do that." However, the Oscar winner went on to embrace playing the expressive performer: "I reveled in her, I swished my hips every day. There was such joy in that freedom of expression."

Davis also opened up about working with Boseman and told the newspaper, "I'm looking back at how tired he always seemed. I look at his beautiful, unbelievable team that was meditating over him and massaging him, and I now realize everything they were trying to infuse in him to keep him going and working at his optimal level. And he received it."

The cast includes stars from The Wire and Euphoria.

You might recognize the stars joining Boseman and Davis in Ma Rainey's.

• Glynn Turman (The Wire, Cooley High) as Toledo

• Colman Domingo (Euphoria, Fear the Walking Dead) as Cutler

• Michael Potts (True Detective, The Wire) as Slow Drag

• Taylour Paige (Zola, White Boy Rick) as Dussie Mae

• Dusan Brown (42) as Sylvester

• Jonny Coyne (Would You Rather) as Sturdyvant

• Jeremy Shamos (Better Call Saul, Birdman) as Irvin

• Joshua Harto (Bridge of Spies) as Policeman

Chadwick actually learned to play the trumpet for the role.

In a featurette about the late actor, his costars sung high praises about his talent and work ethic. "I'm a friend and a fan," Davis said. "I think he's absolutely a terrific actor." Colman Domingo revealed that Boseman actually picked up the trumpet for his part. "He truly learned to play," Domingo said. "Everyone was like, oh that's what you're doing, Chad? Okay, now I'm gonna learn too."

Glynn Turman added, "We were all staying at the same hotel. It started sounded like a music school. You'd come out the elevator, you could hear [that] Chadwick is working on it. It made you say, 'Hey, I don't wanna practice right now but I better start practicing.'"

Get a taste of the film with these stunning photos.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is now streaming on Netflix.

Watch

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