A Pulitzer Prize-winning play comes to life on the big screen this holiday season withFences, starringDenzel Washington, who also steps behind the camera to direct his third feature film. Two months after thefirst trailerdebuted, Paramount has released the second trailer with new footage, which shows thatDenzel Washington’s character Troy Maxson wants to steer his son away from his former life as a ball player. The actor is actually reprising his role from the 2010 Broadway revival of this stage play, alongsideViola Davis.
The original stage play byAugust Wilsonwas the sixth in his 10-part series of plays known asThe Pittsburgh Cycle. The play made its Broadway debut in 1987, withJames Earl Jonesstarring as Troy Maxson, an African-American father who struggles with race relations in the United States while trying to raise his family in the 1950s and coming to terms with the events of his life.
The play also starredMary Alicestarring as his wife Rose andCourtney B. Vanceas their son Cory. The play won the Tony Award for Best Play, withJames Earl JonesandMary Alicealso winning Tony’s, andCourtney B. Vanceearning a Tony nomination, withFencesalso winning the Pulitzer Award that year as well.
The 2010 revival earned 10 Tony nominations altogether, which included acting nominations for bothDenzel WashingtonandViola Davisand Best Revival. PlaywrightAugust Wilsonwrote the screenplay for this film adaptation, which started production in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in late April, and is set for release on Christmas Day.FencesfromParamount Picturesis currently the only movie set to open in wide release on December 25, but it falls in the midst of a competitive holiday season. It may also be an early awards season contender as well, but we’ll have to wait until closer to the end of the year for the Oscar race to truly take shape.
Just nine days before Christmas, Disney and LucasFilm will unleash the firstStar Warsspin-offRogue One: A Star Wars Story, which will also go up against Warner Bros.‘Collateral BeautystarringWill Smith,Helen Mirrenand many more. On December 21, 20th Century Fox will release the video game adaptationAssassin’s Creed, starringMichael Fassbender, going up against Sony’s sci-fi thrillerPassengers, starringJennifer LawrenceasChris Pratt, and Universal’s animated comedySing. On December 23, 20th Century Fox will release the comedyWhy Him?, starringJames FrancoandBryan Cranston. Those are just the films opening in wide release, with a slew of others such as Focus’A Monster Calls, directorMartin Scorsese’sSilence,Mark Wahlberg’sPatriot’s Day, directorJim Jarmusch’sPaterson, director/starBen Affleck’sLive By Nightand the ensembleHidden Figuresalso opening inlimited release.
Fencesis directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay byAugust Wilson, adapted fromWilson’sPulitzer Prize-winningplay. The supporting cast also includesJovan Adepo,Stephen McKinley Henderson,Russell Hornsby,Mykelti WilliamsonandSaniyya Sydney. The film is produced byScott Rudin,Denzel WashingtonandTodd Black. Take a look at the second trailer below forFences, as we get closer to the December 25 release date.
