Harrison Ford has honored his former 42 co-star Chadwick Boseman with a poignant message. The world was stunned when news broke late Friday night that Boseman had passed away at age 43. For four years, Boseman waged a secret battle against colon cancer, and his death came as a massive blow to both the film industry and the Black community. Boseman became a household name after being cast as the MCU's Black Panther; he appeared in four films in total, with his solo venture Black Panther widely being considered one of the very best MCU films.
Before that, however, Boseman's breakout role came in 2013, when he played Jackie Robinson in 42. In playing the first African American Major League Baseball player, Boseman proved his chops and started the journey to becoming a major icon. Ford co-starred in 42 as Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey. 42 earned positive reviews from both audiences and critics, and in light of Boseman's passing, it has received renewed attention from those seeking to honor the actor's work. In releasing his statement, Ford becomes the latest of Boseman's former co-stars to pay tribute to him.
Ford shared his statement to THR on Monday and called Boseman a hero, much like the rest of the world has in the days since his death. "Chadwick Boseman was as compelling, powerful and truthful as the characters he chose to play," Ford said. "His intelligence, personal dignity and deep commitment inspired his colleagues and elevated the stories he told. He is as much a hero as any he played. He is loved and will be deeply missed."
The tweet announcing Boseman's passing has since become the most-liked tweet of all time, something that many have declared as fitting for his legacy. The number of people paying tribute to Boseman has continued to grow, with several of Boseman's MCU co-stars offering their kind words. Some of Boseman's former directors have chimed in his well, from Spike Lee (Da 5 Bloods) to Ryan Coogler (Black Panther). Those outside of the entertainment industry have even paid their respects, with former President Barack Obama and current presidential nominee Joe Biden sharing their sentiments.
Boseman's final onscreen appearance will arrive later this year in Netflix's awards contender Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, where he will star alongside Viola Davis. For many, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom will hold some extra emotion as they watch Boseman's performance, thought they at least have his past films to return to. From T'Challa in the MCU to Jackie in 42, Boseman put out a number of remarkable performances that fans will surely hold close now more than ever. And while Ford is the latest to pay his respects, he likely won't be the last. After all, Boseman left behind quite the legacy.
Source: THR
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September 01, 2020 at 04:59AM
