Chadwick Boseman lands Independent Spirit Award nom for ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
Boseman was quietly suffering from a four-year battle with colon cancer while shooting the film
Chadwick Boseman continues to get acknowledgment for his phenomenal talent after his passing.
On Tuesday, the actor was nominated for a 2021 Independent Spirit Award for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the Netflix film adapted of August Wilson’s 1982 play with the same name. The role was Boseman’s last performance.
The film debuted on the streaming platform back in December of 2020 and also stars Viola Davis as famous jazz singer Ma Rainey. Boseman is nominated in the category for best male lead plays as Levee, a cunning yet passionate member of Rainey’s band.
The Independent Spirit Award’s mentioned its 36th ceremony nominees via Twitter.
Boseman was quietly suffering from a four-year battle with colon cancer while shooting the film. He passed away in August.
Netflix also plans to push for the late actor to receive the Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in the film and Best Supporting Actor for his role in Da 5 Bloods.
If Boseman is nominated for Best Actor in 2021 he will be the first posthumous nominee since Massimo Troisi in 1995, per People. If he is nominated for Best Supporting Actor he will become the third person to do so in Oscar history.
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In December, the actor was also recognized at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. As reported by theGrio, Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr. honored Boseman during the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Greatest of All Time special.
Boseman, renowned for his portrayal of T’Challa, starred in Black Panther. The 2018 film was one of the first MCU films to earn over $1 billion worldwide.
The late star was honored as a “Hero for the Ages” during the event. MTV declared that the award commended him as “a star whose heroism onscreen was only surpassed by the true hero they were offscreen.”
Downey, who portrayed Iron Man, said Boseman’s “energy and intensity was undeniable.”
He “truly embodied what it meant to be a superhero,” said Downey.
Additional reporting by Biba Adams
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