“42” star Chadwick Boseman sings and dances in the latest look at Universal’s upcoming biopic.
The latest trailer for Universal’s upcoming James Brown film “Get on Up” takes a straightforward biographical approach.
The clip begins with the following voiceover from star Chadwick Boseman (42): “Want to get to know me? I’ll tell you. Dad in the army. Mama left. No one else helped me.”
James Brown ‘Get On Up’ Biopic Trailer Hits The Web: Watch
His concise bio is accompanied by images of Brown’s childhood, including him banging on pots and pans, his time in prison and him performing onstage.
The trailer features other glimpses of Brown’s success, including him visiting the White House and sporting a fur coat while standing in front of a private plane.
Brown also meets manager Ben Bart (Dan Aykroyd), who’s shown saying Brown, “blew the roof off of that place.”
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He also meets the mother who abandoned him, played by Viola Davis.
The clip ends with Brown and Aykroyd watching a man try to dance the mashed potato while a confused-looking Brown says, “What the hell are you doing?…That ain’t nobody’s mashed potato.”
The film, directed by The Help helmer Tate Taylor, also stars Octavia Spencer and hits theaters August 1. Watch the trailer below.
- This article originally appeared in THR.com.