Netflix have released a trailer for their upcoming documentary all about the life and work of the lateChadwick Boseman, which will only be available for a limited time. TitledChadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist, the project will act as a tribute to the actor, who passed away last year after a private battle with colon cancer, and will feature interviews with a host of A-listers, each of whom were influenced in some way by theBlack Pantherstar.
Netflix’s official synopsis forChadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artistreads, “‘Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artist’ is an intimate look at the Oscar-nominated actor’s incomparable artistry, and the acting process which informed his transformative performances. Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, George C. Wolfe, Branford Marsalis, Phylicia Rashad and more take us behind the scenes to explore Boseman’s extraordinary commitment to his craft.”
Those being interviewed for Netflix’sPortrait of an Artistproject include Boseman’sMa Rainey’s Black Bottomco-stars Viola Davis, Glynn Turman, and Taylour Paige, alongside director George C. Wolfe. Other creatives taking part in the project include Danai Gurira, Brian Helgeland, Reginald Hudlin, Spike Lee, Phylicia Rashad, and Denzel Washington among others.
Having quickly become synonymous for his performance as Marvel’sBlack Panther, Chadwick Boseman sadly passed away on August 28 at the age of 43, after secretly battling colon cancer for the last four years. The actor had decided to keep his health issues a secret, even from the likes ofBlack Pantherdirector Ryan Coogler andMarvel Studios.
Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artistcomes in lead up to the Oscars, during which Boseman is looking increasingly likely to be posthumously awarded the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role forMa Rainey’s Black Bottom. So far, the actor has won theGolden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture- Drama forMa Rainey’s, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Gotham Award, a Critic’s Choice Award, and was nominated for the Bafta for Best Leading Actor.
The actor’s wife, Simone Ledward Boseman, has been accepting the awards on his behalf, and has used this as an opportunity to advocate for early cancer screens. “Black people in this country are 20 percent more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 40 percent more likely to die from it,” she said during her speech at the NAACP Awards. “The age for routine screening has recently been lowered to 45 so if you are 45 years of age or older, please get screened. Don’t put it off any longer, please get screened.”
Chadwick Boseman: Portrait of an Artistwill only be available on Netflix for a limited time, debuting on April 17 beginning at 12:00 a.m. Pacific time. It will then remain on the service for 30 days before being removed.Ma Rainey’s Black Bottomis available now to stream on Netflix, and tells the story of a trailblazing blues singer, Ma Rainey, and her band who gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927.
