Chadwick Boseman: Beyond the Panther, a Playwright’s Voice Resurfaces
The world remembers Chadwick Boseman primarily as the regal Black Panther, T’Challa, a groundbreaking superhero who resonated with millions. His untimely death in 2020 at just 43, after a private battle with cancer, left a profound void. Yet, Boseman’s impact extended far beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was a dedicated artist who brought to life real-life heroes, portraying icons like James Brown in Get On Up, Jackie Robinson in 42, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. His brother, Derrick, speaks of a man seemingly destined for such roles, stating, “In a way Chad trained and prepared his entire life to step into being ‘Chadwick Boseman’ in the way the world knew him.” This deep connection to Black history and identity was a driving force throughout his life.
While his film career cast a long shadow, Boseman’s early aspirations lay in directing, leading him to enrol at Howard University with that very goal. His journey then took him to New York’s theatre scene, where he honed his skills as a playwright and director. Now, nearly six years after his passing, one of these significant theatrical works, Deep Azure, is set to be staged for a nine-week run at London’s iconic Shakespeare’s Globe.
The Genesis of ‘Deep Azure’
Penned in 2005, Deep Azure delves into the raw grief and shock of a community grappling with the murder of an unarmed Black man, Deep, at the hands of an undercover police officer. This powerful hip-hop drama, which artfully blends rap with Shakespearean lyricism, was deeply personal for Boseman. It was inspired by the tragic death of his friend and fellow Howard University student, Prince Jones, who was killed in 2000 under similar circumstances. The play first premiered in Chicago in 2005 and saw a one-night-only reading at Howard Theatre in Washington D.C. last year.
Kevin, another of Boseman’s brothers, recalls the intense creative process behind Deep Azure. “It took him a while to write it,” he shares, “he was in this process of wrestling with the grief of Prince Jones and also wrestling with the general grief around police brutality and Black bodies, trying to make sense of it. The characters… the romantic partner… there’s a lot of truth in it.”
A Consummate Artist’s Diverse Talents
Boseman’s brothers believe he would have been deeply honoured to see his work performed at the Globe. “He would have wanted to be engaged in the creative process,” Derrick explains. Writing was merely one facet of Boseman’s multifaceted artistic identity. Kevin describes him as “such a consummate artist,” highlighting his proficiency as a singer, trumpeter, and painter. “He loved language – he was on the high school speech and debate team. He understood the power of words.”
Though his burgeoning film career eventually demanded more of his time, Deep Azure played a crucial role in his professional trajectory. Boseman adapted the play into a screenplay, which caught the attention of Michael Greene, who later became his agent.
Enduring Relevance of ‘Deep Azure’s Themes
The play’s exploration of police brutality has tragically remained a pressing issue throughout Boseman’s life and continues to resonate today. Derrick reflects on the climate of 2020, the year Chadwick died, when “the killing of Black men by police had almost become theatre and a distraction from what was going on.” He recounts a poignant moment in Chadwick’s final weeks: “there was a killing and he just looked at me and he said, ‘We have to do something.’” Boseman was a vocal advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement, leveraging his platform to champion crucial social causes. He was among many Black actors who signed an open letter urging Hollywood to redirect funds from policing and invest in Black communities.
The unique linguistic style of Deep Azure, a fusion of hip-hop and spoken word, has even been noted as a precursor to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton. Boseman’s appreciation for Shakespeare was cultivated through a summer course at Oxford, a valuable opportunity made possible by a scholarship funded by Denzel Washington.
Deep Azure offers a profound glimpse into a dimension of Boseman’s artistry that existed beyond his commanding on-screen presence. “Chad was the full package,” Kevin asserts. “He was beautiful. He could deliver a line. But he was also incredibly, incredibly smart.”
The current production at Shakespeare’s Globe, directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu, who earned an Olivier nomination in 2022 for his powerful work For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy, focuses on a community’s journey towards healing. The parallels to Boseman’s own family’s experience of navigating grief over a public figure who transcended their personal lives are striking.
Navigating Grief in the Public Eye
The brothers found solace in the enforced isolation of the pandemic following Chadwick’s death. “Our family could really pull together in isolation, be in community with one another and not deal with the outside world directly,” Kevin explains. He also reveals a personal struggle, having been diagnosed with cancer in 2018, two years after his brother’s diagnosis. The overwhelming presence of Boseman’s image in the media was a constant reminder of their loss. “But he was everywhere. We couldn’t walk into a store and not see his face on the cover of a magazine. It was overwhelming.” Derrick vividly remembers encountering his late brother’s likeness unexpectedly, from getting new tires for his car to scrolling through Netflix.
“It was like he wouldn’t go away,” Derrick says. “The whole world was constantly reminding us of what happened. People will message me to this day thinking it’ll make me feel better, but it makes me feel worse. They don’t even know they’re doing it.” It has been a gradual process for Derrick to re-engage with his brother’s work. “I see how great an actor Chad was, but I also see his own personality in the way he moves, and the way he talks.”
Despite the profound pain of their loss, the brothers cherish the time they had with Chadwick in his final months. “Those last five months of his life we were in LA with him and our parents, helping to take care of him along with Simone, his widow,” Kevin shares. “It really is one of the greatest privileges of my life to witness his transition [to the other side] and to help him through it.”
Chadwick Boseman’s legacy endures not only through his celebrated films and the resurfacing of his play Deep Azure, but also in less tangible ways. “Chad was someone who loved humanity, who was curious, and a seeker of knowledge,” Kevin states. “He left an indelible mark on people’s hearts and it’s an honour to create opportunities for who he was to continue to inspire people because at the end of the day, Chad rose to superstardom but he rose from very humble beginnings. It’s a reminder that hard work and dedication to a discipline and a craft can take you as far as you want it to take you.”
‘Deep Azure’ is currently showing at Shakespeare’s Globe in London until 11 April 2026.
