Netflix is giving viewers a first look at Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
The streamer released production images Wednesday on Instagram, showing the cast dressed in period costumes.
The musical drama is adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play by the same name. The movie marks Boseman’s final role following his death at age 43 in August, after a four-year battle with colon cancer.
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The late actor portrays a trumpet player named Levee in blues singer Ma Rainey’s band. Davis stars as real-life Blues legend Gertrude (Ma) Rainey, who battles with her white management team for control of her music.
Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Taylour Paige and Dusan Brown round out the main cast.
According to the official synopsis from Netflix: “Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary Mother of the Blues, Ma Rainey (Academy Award winner Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music.”
The film is directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted for the screen by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Denzel Washington and Todd Black serve as producers, and the score comes from Grammy winner Branford Marsalis.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom premieres Dec. 18.
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