While his latest film, The Magnificent Seven, currently sits atop the Hollywood box office, Denzel Washington is showing no signs of slowing down and will make his return to the screen later this year in his adaptation of Fences.
Based on August Wilson’s 1983 play of the same name, the drama tells the story of Troy Maxson, a former Negro league baseball player now living as a garbage collector whose seeming lack of affection drives his loved ones away.
Reprising his role as Maxson from the 2010 Broadway revival, which was also critically lauded, Washington now pulls double duty serving as the film’s star and director. Returning alongside the Oscar-winning actor is Viola Davis in her role as Troy’s tolerant wife, Rose. Fences also marks Washington’s third outing behind the camera following Antwone Fisher (which also co-starred Davis) and The Great Debaters.
In 1987 the play received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as the Tony Award for Best Play. The 2010 run also earned the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, and if the trailer is any indication, Washington maybe gunning for his second Academy Award.
Although he is receiving a sole screenwriting credit, August Wilson died in 2005 after being diagnosed with liver cancer. He was 60.