Mackie says he can’t watch Boseman film
It’s too soon.
Anthony Mackie is unable to watch his late friend Chadwick Boseman in Netflix’s critically acclaimed “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” because it would be too emotional an experience for him.
“‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ holds a very special place,” the actor told Extra. “With the relationship to that … and my relationship to Chad, I haven’t been able to pull myself to the point, emotionally, to be able to sit and take that experience in because I wouldn’t be able to watch it for the performance and the art; it would just be too emotional of a process for me.”
The Julliard-trained Mackie had commonalities with Boseman — who died in August at age 43.
Asides from starring in Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster movies as Falcon and Black Panther, both actors — hailing from the South — starred in the August Wilson work.
New Orleans native Mackie starred in the 2003 Broadway revival of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Charles S. Dutton and Heather Alicia Simms.
Boseman’s final liveaction film performance as Levee in the George C. Wolfe-helmed filmed adaptation of the play has drawn high praise and has garnered Oscar buzz.
Their relationship actually dates back to when they met during their collegiate years.
“I met Chad in ’98, ’99, so I’ve known him, I knew him for a long time,” Mackie revealed of his friend, who hailed from Anderson, S.C. “What was great about Chad, unlike everybody else today, Chad kept his circle close to his vest. He kept his world very private. That’s one thing, one of the things, that we had in common.”