Laurence Fishburne is stepping back behind the camera — and this time, he’s bringing André Holland along for the ride. The award-winning actor is developing The Rule of Nines, a new feature with producer and casting director Bonnie Timmermann (I Origins, Roofman) and Moonlight star André Holland. The script comes from writer John Connor.
This marks a full-circle moment for Fishburne, who made his directorial debut back in 2000 with Once in the Life, a crime drama he wrote and led. Since then, he’s passed on numerous directing offers, waiting for a project that truly sparked something. According to him, The Rule of Nines is that spark.
“The fact that I’ve been making films since I was 11 or 12 means that I’m a filmmaker,” he told Variety. “It makes me really prepared… This may be the moment where I move into the director space in a real, consistent kind of way.”
While he’s leaning deeper into directing, Fishburne isn’t stepping away from acting. He’ll return for the fifth and final season of The Witcher, which he says is expected to stream around Halloween next year. And after years of being cast in heavy dramatic roles, he’s also eyeing more comedic work — tapping into the lighter side audiences saw on Black-ish and even way back on Pee-wee’s Playhouse.
With The Rule of Nines, Fishburne appears ready to carve out the next chapter of his creative legacy — one where he calls the shots. And with André Holland attached, audiences are already curious about the world they’re building together.
As details about the plot and casting unfold, one thing is clear: Fishburne moving into a more consistent directing era is a win for storytelling, especially stories shaped by the artists who’ve lived so deeply within the craft.