Chadwick Boseman stopped ‘midway’ during emotional scene in last movie says co-star Colman Domingo
The late Chadwick Boseman was nearly overcome by emotion while performing a scene with co-star Colman Domingo in the Netflix movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Domingo, 50, during an online Q&A on Saturday reflected on the final performance by Boseman who died at age 43 in August due to colon concer after a lengthy private battle, according to an article by Insider.
Black Panther star Boseman in the film portrays ambitious trumpet player Levee in the legendary band of Ma Rainey, played by Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis, 55, while Domingo takes on the role of band trombone player Cutler.
Final performance: The late Chadwick Boseman was nearly overcome by emotion while performing a scene with co-star Colman Domingo, shown in April 2018 in New York City, in the upcoming Netflix movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Cutler in one scene told a story about what happened to a Black pastor he knew who was confronted by a group of white men.
Levee then flew into a rage that left Boseman struggling with his emotions as his character denounced God.
‘God doesn’t love your a**, he hates you with all the fury in his heart!,’ Levee screamed at Cutler.
‘He stops midway of the speech, and whatever was happening there I think [co-stars] Michael [Potts], Glynn [Turman], and I, we all knew it,’ Domingo said. ‘It was one of those moments when you go, ”This is the good stuff, and we’re all here, do not step away”.’
Netflix movie: Domingo, 50, during an online Q&A on Saturday reflected on the final performance by Boseman, shown in March 2018 in Hollywood, who died at age 43 in August due to colon concer after a lengthy private battle, according to an article by Insider
Domingo said that he noticed something concerning in Boseman’s eyes.
‘Something was happening with Chad, and he turned away,’ Domingo said. ‘I thought he was about to stop the scene, and I don’t think I’ve ever done this before in my entire career, I just said, ”Tell me, tell me.” I was just yelling at him. ”Tell me! Tell me!” Like, do not give up this scene. And then he explodes with all the rage and fury and the questions of God’s will.’
Domingo said the all the actors in the scene embraced after the powerful moment.
Emotional scene: Michael Potts, Boseman and Domingo, shown in a still from Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, were involved in an emotional scene together
‘We all just embraced each other and sobbed. All these grown men with tears in their eyes. Michael, Glynn, Chad, myself we were silent for at least a good minute and we were all trying to collect ourselves,’ Domingo said. ‘We didn’t know what was in the room and what we were actually dealing with, what were the underpinnings of that scene. It was a whisper at first and then it was a roar’.
Domingo during the Q&A also revealed that Boseman’s widow Taylor Simone Ledward told him and Turman that Boseman was most proud of the film.
‘This truly is part of his legacy. He couldn’t be more proud that this was his final film,’ Domingo said.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is scheduled to be released December 18 by Netflix.
Coming soon: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is scheduled to be released December 18 by Netflix and stars Viola Davis as Ma Rainey, Boseman as Levee and is directed by George C. Wolfe, shown above in an image released by the streaming service