Chadwick Boseman Earns Posthumous 2021 Golden Globe Nomination

The late, great Chadwick Boseman has earned his first posthumous awards show nod.

The Golden Globes announced their list of 2021 nominees early on Wednesday, February 3, and fans of the actor — who passed away in August of 2020 due to complications from stage IV colon cancer — were likely pleased to see that he snagged a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama thanks to his role in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Boseman stuns in the Netflix original film — adapted by George C. Wolfe from August Wilson's play of the same name — as Levee, a stubborn, arrogant trumpeter and a part of blues legend Ma Rainey's (Viola Davis) ensemble band. Throughout one difficult day in a Chicago recording studio, Levee butts heads with Ma and the rest of the band members, leading to an explosive confrontation. Between Levee's stunning monologue and the film's shocking conclusion, Boseman delivers a raw, searing performance, and it's no surprise that he earned a nomination.

Tragically, Ma Rainey is the last on-screen appearance for Boseman after his untimely death in 2020, making this year the final one for the Golden Globes to award this fallen star. Here's who Chadwick Boseman is up against at the 2021 Golden Globes, and what his chances are of posthumously taking home this top prize.

There's no question that Boseman, on the strength of his performance alone, is likely the frontrunner to win the Golden Globe at the 2021 ceremony. Even if Boseman's turn as Levee wasn't his final one, voters would likely reward this incredible talent for his unforgettable performance, despite some seriously stiff competition.

At the 2021 Golden Globes, which will be led remotely by bicoastal hosts Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, Boseman is up against heavy hitters like Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, and Riz Ahmed, for their roles in Mank, The Father, and Sound of Metal, respectively. Davis also scored a nod for her leading role as Ma Rainey herself, but unfortunately, the film as a whole didn't crack the Best Motion Picture – Drama category.

Audiences will be able to see if Boseman triumphs in his category at the end of the month; the 2021 Golden Globes will air on February 28, 2021 on NBC. The full list of nominees Boseman's category, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, is below.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Gary Oldman, Mank

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal

Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Tahar Rahim, The Mauritanian