The Piano Lesson (upcoming film)
The Piano Lesson | |
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Directed by | Malcolm Washington |
Screenplay by |
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Based on | The Piano Lesson by August Wilson |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Mike Gioulakis |
Production company | Mundy Lane Entertainment |
Distributed by | Netflix |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Piano Lesson is an upcoming American drama film directed by Malcolm Washington, who co-wrote the screenplay with Virgil Williams. It is an adaptation of the 1987 play of the same name by August Wilson.
Premise
Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor.
Cast
- John David Washington as Boy Willie Charles
- Samuel L. Jackson as Doaker Charles
- Ray Fisher as Lymon
- Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece Charles
- Michael Potts as Wining Boy
- Corey Hawkins as Avery Brown
- Melanie Jeffcoat as Miss Ophelia
- Erykah Badu
- Gail Bean as Grace
- Jerrika Hinton
- Stephan James
- Malik J. Ali
- Jay Peterson
- Matrell Smith
Production
It was announced in April 2023 that Malcolm Washington would make his feature directorial and screenwriting debut with the film, an adaptation of the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson, with his brother John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, and Corey Hawkins starring. Washington, Jackson, Fisher and Potts reprise their roles from the 2022 stage production of the play. In May, singer Erykah Badu was announced to be making a cameo appearance in the film. Gail Bean, Jerrika Hinton, Stephan James, Malik J. Ali, Jay Peterson and Matrell Smith rounded out the cast in June 2023.
Filming began in Atlanta in April 2023. The Pittsburgh Film Office expressed disappointment that the production would not be filming in the city like previous Wilson adaptations.