The Washington family is returning to the work of iconic playwright August Wilson with a fresh adaptation of The Piano Lesson, set to debut on Netflix later this year. Produced by Denzel Washington and directed by his son, Malcolm Washington, the film follows in the footsteps of previous Wilson adaptations like Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, furthering Denzel Washington’s mission to bring Wilson’s celebrated plays to the screen.
The Piano Lesson is set in 1936 Pittsburgh and centers on the Charles family, whose prized heirloom, a piano intricately carved by an enslaved ancestor, symbolizes their ancestral history and the legacy of slavery. The film brings much of the cast from the recent Broadway revival, including Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Deadwyler.
In speaking with Vanity Fair, Denzel Washington, who has long expressed a deep connection to Wilson’s work, shared the responsibility he feels in adapting the playwright’s stories. “We’ve done three good ones so far,” Washington said, reflecting on his ongoing efforts to honor Wilson’s legacy.
While Denzel produced the film, he handed the directorial reins to his son, Malcolm, who makes his feature film directorial debut with The Piano Lesson Malcolm co-wrote the script with Virgil Williams, known for Mudbound, and describes the experience of adapting Wilson’s work as “broth for the spirits.”
The cast includes not only Jackson and John David Washington, but also Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, Corey Hawkins, and Grammy-winning singer Erykah Badu, who will make a musical cameo appearance. In addition, six more actors—Gail Bean, Stephan James, Malik J. Ali, Jerrika Hinton, Jay Peterson, and Matrell Smith—have joined the ensemble.
Malcolm Washington shared his deep personal connection to the story, revealing that he first encountered The Piano Lesson while digitizing his family’s photos. The play’s themes resonated with him, inspiring his desire to bring the story to the screen. “When I read The Piano Lesson, it just stopped me,” Washington said. “It was a rare experience where you read a text that just aligns with where you are in your own head.”
The film adaptation expands on Wilson’s original play by exploring the supernatural elements and the historical trauma embedded in the Charles family’s story. The movie opens up the play’s setting, moving beyond the living room to visually illustrate key moments only discussed in the original text.
*The Piano Lesson* will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before streaming on Netflix, marking another milestone in the Washington family’s ongoing tribute to one of America’s greatest playwrights.
