Chadwick Boseman has the potential to make history with posthumous Oscar nominations.
Boseman, well-known for playing Marvel’s Black Panther, died in August at age 43 after a private battle against colon cancer. If Boseman is nominated in two acting categories at the Oscars, he will be the first posthumous same-year dual nominee.
“His final performance, in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, is expected to bring him a lead actor Oscar nomination,” LA Times reported. “His performance in another 2020 film, Da 5 Bloods, is a strong contender for a supporting nomination as well.”
Boseman has won multiple awards this year already. Boseman received a Golden Globe award for his performance as Levee Green in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” on Feb. 28. Additionally, on March 7, Boseman won Critics Choice Awards’ best actor for this performance in the Netflix film. The award was accepted by Simone Ledward Boseman, his widow.
“But his work deserves this. His work in this film deserves this. He deserves this, and so he would always thank God first and foremost in everything,” Ledward Boseman said. “He would always honor his mother and his father. He would always acknowledge those who came before him, those who charted the path, those who gave him their gifts.”
Ledward Boseman continued by speculating on what her husband may say when accepting the award.
“He may say something about the importance of this story. About the importance of Black voices telling Black stories. He may take this moment to give honor to August Wilson, one of the greatest playwrights of our time,” Ledward Boseman said. “And, as I recently read, societies grow great when all men plant trees in their shade. They know they may never sit, and our society may be a far cry from great, but I know that the seeds you planted will grow into forests. And one day we too will be tall enough to reach the heavens. Thank you, Critics’ Choice and thank you, Chad.”
