Jeffrey Wright and Octavia Spencer are stepping into two of the most iconic roles in American theater. The Academy Award-nominated actor and Academy Award-winning actress will star in Chinonye Chukwu and Tony Kushner’s upcoming feature adaptation of Arthur Miller’s classic Death of a Salesman. The film is being developed by Focus Features and Amblin Entertainment.
A New Legacy on Screen
Wright will take on the role of Willy Loman, the aging salesman at the center of the story, while Spencer will portray Linda Loman, his devoted wife. Their casting marks a historic shift: Wright will become the first Black actor to portray Willy Loman on the big screen, following Wendell Pierce’s groundbreaking performance in the 2022 Broadway revival.
First staged in 1949, Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award-winning play examines disillusionment, strained family ties, and the fragile pursuit of the American Dream. Over the years, Death of a Salesman has been revisited in several mediums, from László Benedek’s 1951 film adaptation (nominated for five Academy Awards) to Dustin Hoffman’s 1985 TV version, to multiple stage revivals worldwide.
Behind the Camera
Chinonye Chukwu (Till, Clemency) will direct and co-adapt the screenplay alongside Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Lincoln, The Fabelmans). Both will also produce the project, with producers Cindy Tolan, Kristie Macosko Krieger for Amblin Entertainment, and Spencer through her company Orit Entertainment.
Continuing a Tradition of Reimagining Classics
This adaptation adds to a growing list of collaborations between Focus Features and Amblin. It also underscores the timelessness of Miller’s work, as each new interpretation reintroduces audiences to a story that resonates across generations.
With Chukwu’s vision, Kushner’s words, and powerhouse performances from Wright and Spencer, this latest Death of a Salesman promises to reframe the American classic for a new era.