Netflix delays ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ virtual preview event following Chadwick Boseman’s death

Chadwick Boseman, the charismatic actor who was well known for portraying unprecedented characters like supreme court justice Thurgood Marshall, music icon James Brown, and Marvel superhero T’Challa, a.k.a. Black Panther, passed away earlier today. Calling him strong would be an understatement. The late actor did multiple films while battling his colon cancer which had progressed from stage 3 at the time of diagnosis to stage 4. He went on to deliver some exceptional performances despite being on surgeries and numerous chemotherapy treatments.

Chadwick’s family took to Twitter to issue a statement and confirmed his demise. The family’s statement had also confirmed that Boseman had finished filming his last, titled Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
The film which was set to be on Netflix soon has been held back from its virtual preview. The event which was set for Monday has been halted in the wake of Chadwick’s death.

“We are heartbroken over today’s news of the passing of Chadwick Boseman, a ‘true fighter’ as his family called him in their poignant tribute. This is an incredible loss. We are canceling Monday’s preview event of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Please join us in sending your thoughts to his.” – a Netflix spokesperson wrote in a statement.

“Chadwick was a superhero on screen and in life, and it’s impossible to imagine working at the level he has while valiantly battling his illness. His legacy as a person and an artist will inspire millions. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Co-CEO, and Chief Content Officer.

The film which is set in Chicago in 1927, revolves around the racial tensions between Ma Rainey and Levee (played by Boseman), a black trumpeter, and a white management team. The movie also stars Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Taylour Paige, and Dusan Brown co-star alongside Grammy winner Branford Marsalis’ score.

Fans were dubious whether Boseman had started working on Black Panther‘s sequel or not. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Marvel Studios had not worked any bit on the production of Black Panther’s sequel. We say this with a heavy heart but Avengers Endgame was our last time seeing Chadwick Boseman in the suits of Black Panther.
The pandemic compelled Marvel to push ahead all of its production schedules, including the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and films like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Chadwick Boseman had also signed a film adaptation of the story of Yasuke, a warrior who served under Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga of Japan. He was set to feature in the story about the only Black Samurai of the 16th Century and had already begun his training in swordplay.