In the screen adaptation of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, several actors who starred in the 2022 Broadway production of the 1987 play reprise their roles onscreen. That includes John David Washington in the role of Boy Willie Charles, Samuel L. Jackson as Doacker Charles, Michael Potts as Wining Boy Charles, and Ray Fisher as Lymon.
In the role of Boy Willie’s sister Berniece Charles — who Academy Award-nominated Danielle Brooks portrayed in the play — comes Danielle Deadwyler, known for her portrayal of Mamie Till in 2022’s Till.
“These Black women are killing it, right?” John David told The Hollywood Reporter of working alongside the actresses onscreen and onstage at the Los Angeles premiere of the film at the Egyptian Theater on Tuesday. “These Black women can go. We’re looking like, ‘Who’s the next Viola [Davis]?’ We got them. They’re here. We need y’all — people with the mic, people who can amplify these works to tell people, ‘We found them.’ They’re here, they’re now. It’s happening. And those are two great examples of fantastic artistry.”
The Piano Lesson, currently playing in select theaters and set to stream Friday on Netflix, is entirely a family affair. In addition to John David in the leading role, father Denzel Washington serves as producer, sister Katia Washington executive producer, and brother Malcolm Washington as co-writer and director. The film marks his feature directorial debut.
“I spoke to my brother and to Sam [Jackson] about it first and they were so encouraging of this take on it,” Malcolm told THR. “This is kind of a bold vision for this kind of work. I wanted them to be behind what I had planned for it, and they came on and they were really excited about this new direction so we just kind of went from there and things snowballed and kept picking up steam.”
Potts said he only had one question when Malcolm reached out to him about reprising his role in the horror drama about a family heirloom and the secrets it holds: “When do we start?”
“This Washington family was a dream,” added Potts. “I don’t know what they did in that house to raise these incredible children. They are amazing — well, no, I know,” he said correcting himself. “Mom and dad are incredible, generous, real people, decent people, and they brought that to the set. I felt embraced by them.”
It’s a sentiment shared by P-Valley star Gail Bean, who appears as Dolly in the story. “It’s like a master class on the business of acting, the art of acting and the beauty of blackness,” Bean said. “Miss Pauletta [Washington, who also appears in the film], I know now why everybody raves about her; she is who we think she is.”
The praise from the film’s co-stars speaks to the fact that John David and Malcolm have no don’ts when it comes to working with family, only do’s.
“Do it again if you want success,” said John David. “I’ve had great success with my sister Katia. Malcolm— if he’s available, you know he’s out of here, he’s gonna be so hot, he’s gonna be on fire. So if I can get him on the phone [to work with me again], that’d be great.”
“It was truly a family affair with the Jacksons as well,” he added. “Sam Jackson, who originated the role, LaTanya Jackson, the first African American woman to direct an August Wilson play on Broadway. That’s a big deal.”
As for Malcolm, “the do’s are tell the truth, be honest, and respect one another,” he said as he looks forward to another potential family project in the future. Denzel recently confirmed Joe Turner’s Come And Gone will be the next Wilson play he adapts, though no talent is attached to the project as of yet. “I’m such fans of all of their work, I’d run to do whatever they want to do,” said Malcolm.
