Denzel Washington is flexing his director muscles for a third go-round in a film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize play, Fences. Two-time Academy Award winner Washington and Emmy Award winning actress, Viola Davis will reprise their roles from the 2010 Broadway revival upon which both received Tonys. Filming is set to begin later this month in Pittsburgh.
Fences was originally written by August Wilson, earning a 1987 Tony Award for Best Play with James Earl Jones as star.
The story delves into the state of race relations in 1950s America, revolving around former Negro League baseball player, Troy Maxon who once had big dreams of making it the major leagues only to become a garbage collector.
Washington is credited as director for The Great Debaters (2007) and his debut, Antwone Fisher (2002). The 2016 Golden Globe Lifetime Achievement Award winner is also slated to executive produce 9 other August Wilson plays for HBO.
