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Samuel L. Jackson wants to dispel a myth about the Academy Awards — namely the humility of creatives who say they are honored just by the reception of a nod.

In a recent interview with the Associated Press promoting Netflix’s August Wilson adaptation The Piano Lesson, the MCU actor joked that he’s been in the business long enough to de-center the Oscars race, and any potential buzz or hype about a project or role, from his work.

“Folks will go, ‘Well it’s just an honor to be nominated.’ No it ain’t,” Jackson said, eliciting chuckles from co-star Michael Potts and the interviewer off-screen. “It’s an honor to win.”

He continued, “You get nominated, folks will go, ‘Yeah yeah, I remember that’ or most people forget.”

Ironically enough, Jackson was bestowed an honorary Oscar by longtime friend Denzel Washington at the 2022 Governors Awards. He has also been...

For Malcolm Washington, an appreciation for August Wilson plays runs in the family. Several years ago, his father Denzel committed to producing film adaptations of Wilson’s Century Cycle plays — a collection of 10 works, each covering one decade of the Black experience in 20th-century America. Denzel started with the Oscar-nominated Fences, which he also directed and starred in, and followed that with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which won Chadwick Boseman a posthumous Best Actor Oscar nomination. In 2022, Malcolm’s brother, the actor John David Washington, starred in a Broadway revival of The Piano Lesson.

John David Washington “couldn’t believe” Sir Christopher Nolan wanted to cast him in ‘Tenet’.The 40-year-old actor - who is the son of ‘Gladiator II’ star Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta - led the director’s 2020 sci-fi/action flick, but he was so stunned to play the Protagonist, he was convinced the 54-year-old filmmaker would tell him it was all a prank once they started filming.During an appearance on the ‘Little Gold Men’ podcast, John David said: “Ain’t no way he wants me in this thing. “Obviously, when you first get it, I couldn't believe it. And then once I started believing it, after day three, he didn't call me saying ‘psych.’ I was like, ‘Alright, let me try to figure out this character.’”‘Tenet’ - which also stars Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Kenneth Branagh and Aaron-Taylor Johnson - follows a former CIA agent who is...

Holiday season is in full swing and awards season is gearing up, which means Netflix is absolutely packed with new releases this month. Naturally, there are the chart-topping new Christmas rom-coms, which have become a signature for the streamer in recent years. But there are also some fantastic throwback films in the lineup, as well as some potential awards contenders this month — most notably, the latest August Wilson adaptation from Denzel Washington, following “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”

It’s a packed month, but not to worry, we’ve combed through to find the best of the best, whether you’re looking for a light-hearted holiday film or something more dramatic to sink your teeth into. Here’s a curated list of the best new movies on Netflix in November.

Netflix ‘Hot Frosty’ (2024)

The Christmas movie sensation of the 2024 holiday season so far, “Hot Frosty” stars Hallmark Queen Lacey Chabert...

Hold on to your butts, Samuel L. Jackson is coming after awards season cordiality.

The veteran actor of stage and screen, most recently seen in the Netflix adaptation of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson,” was blunt in his assessment of the weight awards hold in the span of a career, specifically the Oscar, joking in a recent interview with the Associated Press that people tend to take it all too seriously

“Folks will go, ‘Well it’s just an honor to be nominated.’ No it ain’t,” Jackson said. “It’s an honor to win.”

Jackson himself has only received an Honorary Oscar, presented to him by longtime friend Denzel Washington in 2021, though he was nominated in the category of Best Supporting Actor for “Pulp Fiction.” The actor, producer, and philanthropist is garnering buzz again this year for his performance in “The Piano Lesson,” directed by Washington’s son...

Some partnerships are not built to last.

In 2019, Cindi Berger and Mark Owens merged Hollywood’s two largest publicity firms, Pmk*Bnc and Rogers & Cowan, forming a marketing colossus with Berger as chairman and Owens as CEO.

Owens has since been fired, and the combined entity — now known as R&cpmk — is accusing him of stealing employees, clients and confidential information to launch 2pm Sharp, a rival publicity firm.

In lawsuits filed in New York on Tuesday night and in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, R&cpmk accuses Owens of secretly organizing an employee exodus. Lindsay Galin and Jeff Raymond, co-presidents of talent, were first to leave on Oct. 1, followed by 11 others over the next two days.

The lawsuits claim that the defecting employees breached their duty of loyalty to R&cpmk, which stands to lose “untold revenues from the loss of client business.” R&cpmk must now work to...

The African American Film Critics Association (Aafca) has revealed the honorees for the 16th annual Aafca Awards as well as the honorees for its 2025 Special Achievement Awards.

Nicole Avant, Malcolm Washington, Ray Fisher and RaMell Ross are set to be honored at the Aafca Awards on Feb. 19, 2025, which will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles.

Avant, a producer, former U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and the wife of Netflix co-ceo Ted Sarandos, will receive the Beacon Award for producing Tyler Perry’s upcoming Netflix historical drama series The Six Triple Eight and the documentary The Black Godfather, about her late father Clarence Avant, the legendary music executive.

Washington, a filmmaker who made his feature debut with an adaptation of August Wilson Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Piano Lesson, will receive the Aafca’s Emerging Director Award. The Piano Lesson, which stars John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson,...

From a multi-Oscar-winning drama to an acclaimed musical adaptation, we’ve picked the top Netflix original movies available on the platform.

While Netflix has gained its popularity from its hit series like “Stranger Things,” “Squid Game,” and many others, the streamer has since its first original movie in 2015 been changing the game on how movies can be made and seen, producing high-quality projects and giving awards nominators and voters much to consider.

From Martin Scorsese’s three-and-a-half-hour gangster epic “The Irishman” to the just-released adaptation of the recent Broadway revival of “The Piano Lesson,” starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, and more, there are plenty of Netflix Originals for your next movie night. Ready to watch? Continue below for the best of what the streamer has to offer!

Sign Up $6.99+ / month netflix.com Top 7 Original Movies Streaming Right Now on Netflix:

No. 7: Dolemite Is My Name

No.

Nominations voting is from January 8-12, 2025, with official Oscar nominations announced January 17, 2025. Final voting is February 11-18, 2025. And finally, the 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2 and air live on ABC at 7:00 p.m. Et/ 4:00 p.m. Pt. We update our picks through awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.

The State of the Race

The past couple of years, the Best Actor Oscar race has been rigid to the point of there typically only being room for one surprise nominee to gain momentum in the back half of awards season. Though few nominations have been released, 2024 is shaping up to be no different, with prognosticators really having to stretch to create a list longer than 10 names who have a shot at a nod, if that.

What most people have been waiting to see is how voters will respond to Timothée Chalamet...

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Prime Video is ready with an entertainment-packed December this year. The upcoming month will see the beginning of some of Prime Video’s best original shows including Secret Level and also the return of hit movies like Your Fault. Just like every month, Prime Video is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the best 7 new movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video in December 2024.

The Red Virgin (December 5) Credit – Amazon MGM Studios

The Red Virgin is a Spanish drama film directed by Paula Ortiz from a screenplay co-written by Eduard Sola and Clara Roquet. The 2024 film is set in the 1930s during the Second Spanish Republic in Spain and it follows a precocious and prolific writer who is raised by her mother to become the model of future women.

If the 2025 Oscars nominations were announced today, what would Gold Derby predict as the nominees and winners? Since our predictions center opened on July 1, 2024, more than 6,000 people have made their forecasts in 18 top categories. So who’s out front to claim these golden trophies, according to the Gold Derby Oscar predictions 2025?

Below, see a snapshot in time of our racetrack odds for the 97th Academy Awards, updated on Nov. 25, 2024. See how the odds and rankings have changed over time by examining our previous Oscar snapshots on July 3, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 29, Aug. 6, Aug. 19, Aug. 28, Sept. 11, Sept. 19, Sept. 23, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14, Oct. 22, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 11, and Nov. 18.

Now expected to receive a nomination since the last update: Yura Borisov (“Anora”) in Best Supporting Actor. The Neon film centers around the titular character, a sex worker (Mikey Madison) who embarks on a whirlwind romance with a client, the young son of a Russian oligarch.

Netflix has released a powerful new screen adaptation of August Wilson’s classic play “The Piano Lesson,” which marks Malcolm Washington’s first feature film as director. The film, which debuted at the Telluride Film Festival, examines deep family history and generational suffering through the lens of a single, meaningful musical instrument.

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh, the film depicts the Charles family’s fierce struggle over an ancestral piano carved with pictures of their enslaved forefathers. The center of the story is Boy Willie (John David Washington), who travels from Mississippi to persuade his sister Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler) to sell the family’s prized piano—a symbolic object with a difficult history of survival and resistance.

The production represents a substantial Washington family collaboration. Denzel Washington acts as executive producer, with his sons Malcolm directing and John David starring. This is Denzel Washington’s third adaptation of Wilson’s work, following...

It’s been a big weekend for the Washington family.

While patriarch Denzel Washington chewed the scenery on multiplex screens in “Gladiator II,” the next generation of Washingtons stormed onto streaming with the film adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winner “The Piano Lesson.” With the Netflix film, Denzel and Pauletta Washington’s kids — director Malcolm, actor John David and producer Katia — add to both their family mythos and Wilson’s legacy.

“We’re standing on the shoulders of the Wilsonians,” John David Washington told Variety at the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Nov. 19, listing artists who’ve appeared in Wilson’s works on stage and screen, including his father, Viola Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Latanya Richardson Jackson, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Charles Dutton.

“They showed us how to do it,” he said. “Hopefully the younger generation will be inspired by what’s possible with these words.”

Malcolm,...

It's another epic episode of the Empire Podcast this week, folks, as a smorgasbord of stars join us on the pod — all of whom shared the unique privilege of Chris Hewitt's company in person for their interviews. First to have Hewitts about them there's the great Steve McQueen, writer and director of Apple TV+ bound Blitz, to talk about how he approached the World War II drama, and working with Paul Weller [18:56 — 35:15 approx]. Then, Chris has a cracking conversation with The Piano Lesson stars John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler, which veers from the hilarious to the heartfelt in no time at all [56:44 — 1:15:50 approx]. And finally, *checks notes* a Chris Hewitt rounds it all off with an extended excerpt from his spoilerific chat with Transformers One director Josh Cooley [1:39:54 — 1:54:52 approx] The full thing is available to Spoiler Special subscribers.

Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara...

“Ain’t no ghost in this house,” Boy Willie (John David Washington) says late in The Piano Lesson. “That’s all in Berniece’s head.” Even if that’s true, the ghosts in Berniece’s (Danielle Deadwyler) head have a very real power, which Malcolm Washington channels into his feature directorial co-screenwriting debut, an adaptation of August Wilson’s 1987 play, part of his iconic 10-part American Century Cycle.

“Genre is a great way to speak to something deeper,” Malcolm Washington told Netflix. “It’s a metaphor you can use that can be both thrilling and exciting, and when you finish the film, it sticks to your bones a little bit. It’s not just a ghost story made to scare you — although I do hope it sends a shiver down your spine. But it’s a story that’s wrestling with a much larger issue.”

Above all else, The Piano Lesson is concerned with legacy,...

Danielle Deadwyler almost reached the Oscar circle in 2023 with her extraordinary performance as a grieving mother in “Till.” But it was one of those tough-sit dramas that just wasn’t seen by enough people. This time, Netflix is behind her next likely awards contender, “The Piano Lesson”. The film is the third Denzel Washington-produced August Wilson adaptation after “Fences” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” — and arguably the best so far.

Directed by Malcolm Washington in his debut, the movie is set in Pittsburgh (per usual) and co-stars John David Washington as the brother who urgently tries to persuade his sister Berniece (Deadwyler) to sell their family inheritance, a giant piano engraved with the faces of their ancestors, and Samuel L. Jackson as their bemused uncle, watching and commenting on the proceedings.

All are superb, but Deadwyler stands out, not only for her powerful female energy among all the men in the house,...

Set in 1936, The Piano Lesson—the fourth chronological entry in playwright August Wilson’s ten-play Century Cycle—is both a family drama and a ghost story. The titular musical instrument sits in the living room of Doaker Charles (Samuel L. Jackson), who lives in Pittsburgh’s Hill District with his adult niece Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler) and her young daughter Maretha (Skylar Aleece Smith). As the story opens, Berniece’s brother Boy Willie (John David Washington) and his friend Lymon (Ray Fisher) have arrived at the Charles House from Mississippi, looking to sell a truckload of watermelons they’ve brought from their home state. Once inside […]

The post “You Can’t Tell the Story of America Without a Theft”: Malcolm Washington on The Piano Lesson first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Set in 1936, The Piano Lesson—the fourth chronological entry in playwright August Wilson’s ten-play Century Cycle—is both a family drama and a ghost story. The titular musical instrument sits in the living room of Doaker Charles (Samuel L. Jackson), who lives in Pittsburgh’s Hill District with his adult niece Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler) and her young daughter Maretha (Skylar Aleece Smith). As the story opens, Berniece’s brother Boy Willie (John David Washington) and his friend Lymon (Ray Fisher) have arrived at the Charles House from Mississippi, looking to sell a truckload of watermelons they’ve brought from their home state. Once inside […]

The post “You Can’t Tell the Story of America Without a Theft”: Malcolm Washington on The Piano Lesson first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Good Morning America may have a replacement for Michael Strahan if Denzel Washington gets his way.

The two-time Oscar winner appeared as a guest on the show and claimed he was replacing the retired football star.

Denzel’s remarks arrived over a week after Strahan received backlash from a controversial televised moment during a Fox NFL Sunday special.

Many of the program’s viewers called Strahan “disrespectful” for standing during the National Anthem without his hand over his heart, while his Fox co-stars all did so.

He’s since returned to Fox and GMA, following an explanation video live on his official Instagram.

However, that didn’t stop Denzel from telling Strahan he was “finished” after “one more show.”

Denzel told Strahan ‘You’ll be finished’ at GMA

In a behind-the-scenes clip on GMA’s Instagram, Denzel sits beside Rebecca Jarvis, who replaced Robin Roberts, and regular George Stephanopoulos. Strahan...

“The Piano Lesson” is a Netflix movie starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Deadwyler. It is directed by Malcolm Washington.

Outstanding actors bring to life a compelling story centered around a piano—a piano that holds the history of a family, a murder, and the numerous specters that shape the present. “The Piano Lesson” is, above all, a brilliant script based on a captivating narrative filled with intriguing characters and an unresolved mystery. The film shines in two particular areas: the superb work of Mike Gioulakis, who is responsible for the cinematography, and the exceptional performances of the cast, who breathe life into this extraordinary tale. This enigmatic film is enhanced by its actors, especially Danielle Deadwyler, whose performance brings the story to life.

Plot

Boy Willie returns to the family home to reunite with his sister Berniece and sell a family piano in order to purchase some land.

Samuel L. Jackson is in negotiations to join the cast of J.J. Abrams’ untitled mystery movie for Warner Bros and his Bad Robot, Deadline has confirmed.

The actor will join an ensemble that also includes Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega and Emma Mackey, as previously announced. Plot details remain under wraps, though we hear this is not a time-travel film, as some have conjectured. Abrams will direct from his own script, with Bad Robot producing.

Currently, Jackson can be seen starring opposite John David Washington in Netflix’s film The Piano Lesson, based on the August Wilson play, reprising his role after working with Washington on a stage adaptation. The film released in select theaters earlier this month and debuts on the streamer tomorrow. Upcoming, he’ll also be seen in the Western The Unholy Trinity opposite Pierce Brosnan, Renny Harlin’s actioner The Beast opposite Joel Kinnaman, action adventure pic Afterburn opposite Dave Bautista,...

The musical instrument sitting over in the corner, idle but not gathering dust, at the center of August Wilson’s Pulitzer-winning play The Piano Lesson is more than just a piano. It’s a family heirloom, passed down several generations and proof of how their lineage endured hardship and tragedy. It’s a piece of art, carved with the faces of those who came before, all rendered with an expertise that would make Michelangelo envious. It’s a symbol of revenge, with a backstory that involves the breaking of unions,...

Emmy-nominated Baby Reindeer breakout Nava Mau is one of 43 up-and-comers to make it on the BAFTA Breakthrough list this year.

The cohort from the UK, U.S. and India also features the likes of Juice creator Mawaan Rizwan, We Might Regret This auteur Kyla Harris and Daughters directors Angela Walker Patton and Natalie Rae.

Supported by Netflix and into its 11th year, the program offers year-round support and professional development opportunities. Past alumni include Paapa Essiedu, Letitia Wright and Bella Ramsey.

Making the list is just the latest success for Mau in what’s been a breakout year, having wowed as Teri in Netflix smash Baby Reindeer. Upon receiving her historic Emmy nom, with the winner ending up being her Baby Reindeer co-star Jessica Gunning, she told us it was a victory for the transgender acting community.

BAFTA CEO Jane Millichip said: “This year we have an amazing roster of casting directors,...

Hoard writer-director Luna Carmoon, Didi filmmaker Sean Wang and Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau are among 43 Bafta Breakthrough members for its 2024 cohort.

The 43 names consist of 21 UK creatives, 13 from the US and nine from India. The selected members hail from film, games and television, and will receive one-to-one meetings, career guidance, full Bafta voting membership and access to screenings and networking events in the year-long initiative.

Scroll down for the full list of Bafta Breakthrough 2024

Carmoon is one of several filmmakers in the selection, alongside If The Streets Were On Fire director Alice Russell, The Contestant director Clair Titley, and...

Award-winning actor Mawaan Rizwan and Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau are among this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough cohort.

Spotlighting 43 “must-watch” creatives working across film, games and television in the U.K., U.S. and India, the flagship talent initiative is supported by Netflix and aims to provide a springboard for young creatives in costume design, production, casting, editing, games design, performance, directing, composing and cinematography.

Rizwan is best known for his role in BBC Three comedy Juice, which landed him a BAFTA award in May this year. Mau broke through with her performance in the wildly popular Netflix show Baby Reindeer in April.

Top Boy editor Shahnaz Dulaimy and Kyla Harris of We Might Regret This are among the U.K. Breakthroughs as Jih-e Peng, cinematographer on Girls Will Be Girls and Juliana Hoffpauir, costume designer on the Glen Powell-led comedy Hit Man, made the U.S. list. Game...

Ghosts and demons plague the three film adaptations that Denzel Washington has produced of playwright August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle. They nip at the heels of Wilson’s characters. Their unshakable pasts and daunting legacies torment their presents and endanger their futures. In Fences, which Washington directed and starred in, they...

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan is always known for his outstanding casts—look at the stacked-to-the-gills “Oppenheimer,” which featured just a vast array of names, many of them willing to take the smallest of speaking parts just to appear in a Christopher Nolan film. And well, he’s seemingly building up quite an impressive troupe for his latest untitled film with the addition of Robert Pattinson.

Of course, Pattinson was the co-star of Nolan’s temporal sci-fi thriller “Tenet” with John David Washington.

Continue reading Robert Pattinson Joins Cast Of Christopher Nolan’s Movie With Tom Holland, Matt Damon & More at The Playlist.

The cast of Christopher Nolan‘s next movie just keeps getting bigger.

Robert Pattinson is the latest A-list star to reportedly join the hush-hush project, following the announcements of fellow cast members Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Lupita Nyong’o, plus lovebirds Tom Holland and Zendaya.

Little is known about the new film written and directed by Nolan for Universal Pictures, except that it will be an “event” and it will have an IMAX theater release on July 17, 2026. Start saving up your pocket change right now!

This marks Pattinson’s second collaboration with Nolan, following his appearance in “Tenet” (2020) as Neil, the handler of John David Washington‘s protagonist. Hathaway previously worked with the filmmaker in “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012) and “Interstellar” (2014), while Damon popped up in “Interstellar” and “Oppenheimer” (2023). Meanwhile, it will be the first time working with Nolan for Nyong’o, Holland, and Zendaya.

SEEOscar mystery: Where does ‘Oppenheimer...

Robert Pattinson is re-teaming with his “Tenet” director Christopher Nolan for the filmmaker’s closely guarded project at Universal Pictures, Variety has confirmed. Pattinson joins an impressive ensemble that already includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway and Zendaya.

Universal and Nolan’s follow-up to their Oscar-winning drama “Oppenheimer” is projecting a production start date sometime in the first half of 2025. Pattinson will be quite busy in the New Year. Warner Bros. is looking to film a sequel to his 2022 blockbuster “The Batman,” in which the actor would reprise his leading turn as the DC Comics superhero. Pattinson is also starring in A24’s “Primetime,” a thriller drawing inspiration from the reality show “To Catch a Predator” that will serve as the debut narrative feature of rising filmmaker Lance Oppenheim. That indie is planning to ramp up production early next year.

Additionally, Pattinson’s next feature, Bong Joon-Ho’s sci-fi comedy “Mickey 17,...

Elle toasted a starry lineup of leading ladies at its annual Women in Hollywood event Tuesday, recognizing Danielle Deadwyler, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, Julianne Moore, Saoirse Ronan, Zoe Saldaña and Tilda Swinton for their creative and cultural contributions.

The night also brought out a number of A-list presenters, with Cameron Diaz presenting to the Emilia Pérez trio of Gomez, Saldaña and Gascón; John David Washington to Deadwyler; and Willem Dafoe to Madison. Rita Wilson, Rosie O’Donnell and Melanie Griffith also teamed up to present to Moore, marking a reunion of their 1995 film Now and Then.

Taking the stage inside the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Moore recalled how “Now and Then was more than just a film to me, it was an adventure; it was a sweet story about friendship, resilience and navigating the ups and downs of life together. And here we are,...

Christopher Nolan is once again assembling a formidable cast for his new movie, and Robert Pattinson is the latest actor to join up.

The film is already set to star Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya. Production is expected to kick off in early 2025, with Universal already slating the film for an IMAX release on July 17, 2026. In addition to directing and writing the film, Nolan will also produce with Emma Thomas under their Syncopy banner. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but there have been plenty of rumours swirling around, ranging from a period vampire thriller to a helicopter action thriller, but insiders say “nothing has come close to nailing Nolan’s real idea.“

Pattinson previously starred alongside John David Washington in Nolan’s Tenet.

Related Die, My Love first look images feature Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Pattinson

Nolan’s new movie will almost certainly be a big production,...

Robert Pattinson is reteaming with Christopher Nolan for the filmmaker’s much-ballyhooed and much-shrouded new feature film project.

The actor, who starred in Nolan’s 2020 sci-fi thriller Tenet, now joins a stacked cast that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o and Zendaya.

Nolan wrote the script and is directing the project, which Universal Pictures will distribute. The studio has set a release date of July 17, 2026.

Nolan’s latest comes with even fewer plot or logline details than usual for the highly secretive filmmaker. Various theoretical, even divergent, details have been posited regarding the project — a period vampire thriller, a helicopter action thriller — but insiders maintain that nothing has come close to nailing Nolan’s real idea.

Sources say that Damon, Holland, Hathaway and now Pattinson make up the core leads of the feature. Nyong’o and Zendaya are said to have supporting roles.

The filmmaker is producing...

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,...

Play-to-film adaptations can often flourish thanks to the little tricks and turns that only the silver screen can provide: whether it’s Jack Nicholson’s claustrophobic close-up as he exclaims guilt in A Few Good Men, or the frantic editing of Amadeus. On the other hand, some adaptations do too little and end up feeling literally ‘stagey’ as a result. With The Piano Lesson in particular, it feels like not much has been gained by re-rendering this Pulitzer- winner on celluloid.

Adapted from August Wilson’s play — part of the ‘Pittsburgh Cycle’ that includes Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (all three now Denzel Washington-produced films) — The Piano Lesson is set in 1936 in Pittsburgh, where the Charles family live, with a large piano sitting unused in their house. Doaker (Samuel L. Jackson) explains the musical instrument’s tragic backstory: enslaved ancestors were traded so that the white head...

John David Washington, Colman Domingo, and Sebastian Stan are celebrating their Leading Man statuses!

The trio were feted at the Leading Man Party, presented by Los Angeles Magazine, to celebrate their cover stories on Monday night (November 18) at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. See all the photos in the gallery below.

If you didn’t see, Sebastian, Colman, and John David were all in attendance at the 2024 Governors Awards this past weekend. It was a star-studded event with lots of A-listers in attendance!

John David‘s movie The Piano Lesson is set to hit Netflix in just a few days. Be sure to watch the trailer!

Browse through the gallery to see photos of John David Washington, Colman Domingo, and Sebastian Stan at their party last night…...

Netflix has launched a new trailer for Malcolm Washington’s ‘The Piano Lesson’ starring John David Washington.

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, the film follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which documents the family history through carvings made by their enslaved ancestor.

Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, the story explores the intergenerational dynamics of identity, resilience and transcendence – revealing startling truths about how we perceive the past and who gets to define our legacy.

Malcolm Washington makes his directional debut. Oscar-nominated Denzel Washington joins as a producer, and the film stars John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu with Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins.

Also in trailers – Pamela Anderson stars in teaser trailer for ‘The Last Showgirl’

The movie launches on Netflix on 22nd November.

For director Malcolm Washington, generational Black resilience and complex familial bonds are the underlying themes in front of and behind the camera for Netflix’s The Piano Lesson. Making his feature film debut, Washington enlisted the talents of his family as his brother, John David Washington, plays the lead role alongside appearances from his mother, Pauletta, and twin sister, Olivia. Older sister, Katia and father Denzel Washington are producers. Based on August Wilson’s 1987 play, the story centers around a bitter feud between two siblings (played by John David and Danielle Deadwyler) who disagree about what to do with the family’s antebellum-era heirloom piano.

Deadline: How did this adaptation find its way to you? Did Virgil Williams approach you first?

Malcolm Washington: He was involved in it many years before this started, but I don’t think he worked on it yet. So, I approached him with a take that I thought was interesting.

The Piano Lesson. Erykah Badu as Lucille in The Piano Lesson. Cr. David Lee/Netflix © 2024 Get ready for a captivating experience with Netflix’s upcoming release, The Piano Lesson, a film that masterfully blends family dynamics, historical depth, and intense conflicts. Based on August Wilson’s acclaimed play. Set against the backdrop of 1936 Pittsburgh, the narrative revolves around siblings entangled in a heated dispute over a cherished family piano. John David Washington (Tenet & BlacKkKlansman) takes on the role of Boy Willie, who is eager to sell the piano in order to purchase land that carries a painful legacy of slavery. Opposing him is his sister Berniece, portrayed by the remarkable Danielle Deadwyler (Till), who is determined to preserve this vital piece of their family’s heritage. This isn’t merely about a musical instrument; it’s a profound exploration of legacy, memory, and the burdens of history. The piano, adorned...

“The Piano Lesson” is a new Netflix live-action drama feature, directed by Malcolm Washington, starring John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins, now playing in select theaters:

“…set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the ‘Great Depression’, ‘The Piano Lesson’ follows the lives of the ‘Charles’ family and an heirloom…

“…the family piano, decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Netflix has just released the powerfully haunting new trailer for The Piano Lesson. Denzel Washington produces another film adaptation of August Wilson’s plays after he directed and starred in 2016’s Fences. This movie becomes even more of a family affair as Denzel’s son, John David Washington, stars in the drama and it’s directed by another of Denzel’s sons, Malcolm Washington. Malcolm Washington also wrote the script with Virgil Williams.

The cast also features Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean, with Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins.

The official synopsis reads,

“A battle is brewing in the Charles Household. At the center stands a prized heirloom piano tearing two siblings apart. On one side, a brother (John David Washington) plans to build the family fortune by selling it. On the other, a sister (Danielle Deadwyler) will go to...

"You feel that...? That's your family, that's your blood." Netflix has revealed the second official trailer for the film The Piano Lesson, an adaptation of the August Wilson play. This first premiered at the 2024 Telluride & Toronto Film Festivals a few months ago, and is already playing in theaters now before Netflix for streaming soon. It's produced by Denzel Washington, featuring his son John David Washington, directed by his other son Malcolm Washington, making his feature directorial debut. The film follows the lives of the Charles family as they deal with themes of family legacy and more, in deciding what to do with an heirloom, the family piano. Adapted from August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, this explores the inter-generational dynamics of identity, resilience and transcendence - revealing startling truths about how we perceive the past and who gets to define our legacy. With an all-star cast including Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington,...

Netflix has a number of films that it is hoping will make waves this awards season. And one of those films is Malcolm Washington’s “The Piano Lesson.”

Read More: ‘The Piano Lesson’ Review: Danielle Deadwyler Isn’t Here For Sibling Foolishness [Telluride]

As seen in the trailer, “The Piano Lesson” tells the story a prized heirloom piano that is causing issues between siblings. The film stars Samuel L.

Continue reading ‘The Piano Lesson’ Trailer: Danielle Deadwyler & John David Washington Star In Netflix Family Drama at The Playlist.

Netflix has released the new trailer and poster for the drama The Piano Lesson, which is currently playing in select theaters and will begin streaming on Netflix on November 22.

The Piano Lesson is rated PG-13 for strong language, violent content, some suggestive references, and smoking. It is based on August Wilson’s play.

Denzel Washington and Todd Black produced the movie, which was executive-produced by Jennifer Roth, Constanza Romero Wilson, and Katia Washington. Virgil Williams and Malcolm Washington wrote the screenplay.

The Piano Lesson cast includes Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins.

“The process of adapting an American Classic is a terrifying and sacred undertaking,” director and co-writer Malcolm Washington told Netflix blog Tudum previously. “The early months felt most like an archeological expedition.

“Co-writer Virgil Williams and I huddled around the table of his desert home,...

If the 2025 Oscars nominations were announced today, what would Gold Derby predict as the nominees and winners? Since our predictions center opened on July 1, 2024, more than 5,700 people have made their forecasts in 18 top categories. So who’s out front to claim these golden trophies, according to the Gold Derby Oscar predictions 2025?

Below, see a snapshot in time of our racetrack odds for the 97th Academy Awards, updated on Nov. 18, 2024. See how the odds and rankings have changed over time by examining our previous Oscar snapshots on July 3, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 29, Aug. 6, Aug. 19, Aug. 28, Sept. 11, Sept. 19, Sept. 23, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14, Oct. 22, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, and Nov. 11.

Now expected to receive a nomination since the last update: Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” in Best Visual Effects. The movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical is also predicted to receive nominations in Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande), Best Costume Design, Best Makeup & Hairstyling,...

Here’s the latest episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro-budget indie films to bigger-budget studio films and everything in between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dom Lenoir, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk about how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their filmmaking experiences from directors, writers, producers and screenwriters, to actors, cinematographers and distributors.

The Filmmaker’s Podcast #424: The Piano Lesson: Making your debut...

The stars were out for the 2024 Governors Awards held at Dolby Theatre on Sunday evening (November 17) in Hollywood.

The annual event is held prior to the Oscars and celebrates the recipients of a select few of awards conferred by the Academy’s Board of Governors – the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and the Honorary Award.

Many celebrities were in attendance at the event this year, including Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Elizabeth Olsen, pregnant Jennifer Lawrence, Felicity Jones, Marlee Matlin, and more.

Keep reading to find out more…

Each recipient of the Governors Awards is announced over the summer with them being honored at the dinner gala later in the year. Highlights are also shown at the upcoming Oscars.

This year, honorary Oscars were presented to the late Quincy Jones and Juliet Taylor, with Richard Curtis receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award,...

Gold Derby has been predicting the Oscars (and other Hollywood races) for more than two decades now. But how do our current Academy Awards predictions compare to those made by a new player in the game — artificial intelligence?

On Nov. 16, we asked Gemini, Google’s new AI, to predict the nominations in six categories for the 2025 Oscars: picture, director, lead actor, lead actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress. You can see those results below. For the uninitiated, Gemini is a chatbot “that uses machine learning and natural language processing to provide human-like responses to text, image, and audio prompts.”

Comparatively, Gold Derby’s Oscar predictions are derived from the combined forecasts of four unique groups: experts we’ve polled from major media outlets, editors who cover awards year-round for this website, top 24 users who had the best accuracy scores last year, and the mass of users who make up our biggest predictions bloc.

We are halfway through November, Thanksgiving is coming sooner rather than later, and Netflix has a bunch of new movies and shows coming to their lineup. It's a busy week! The new additions include a new Christmas movie, a based-on-a-true-story movie about IVF, and a movie based on an August Wilson play.

First up this week is The Merry Gentleman. It hits Netflix on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024 and stars Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, and Marc Anthony Samuel. The holiday movie tells the story of a young woman who stages an all-male Christmas-themed show in order to save her parent's small-town venue. You know... the usual tale. I cannot wait to watch this. It's like Christmas-themed Magic Mike!

Check out the trailer below:

Joy is also headed to Netflix this week! It hits the streaming service on Thursday, Nov. 21 and follows the story of the creation of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the UK.

Malcolm Washington is stepping out for a special screening of his new movie!

The 33-year-old filmmaker was supported by dad Denzel Washington at the tastemaker screening of his movie The Piano Lesson on Saturday (November 16) held at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills in West Hollywood, Calif.

Stars of the movie John David Washington (who is also Denzel‘s son) and Danielle Deadwyler were also in attendance along with John David and Malcolm‘s sister Katia Washington, who serves as a producer on the movie.

Other stars in attendance included Anthony Anderson, Sam Rockwell and longtime partner Leslie Bibb, dancer Chloe Arnold, Chris Messina, Yaya DaCosta, John Ortiz, and Danny Glover.

Here’s the movie’s synopsis from Netflix: “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,...

( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Samuel L. Jackson, aka Nick Fury of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is one of Hollywood’s most recognized actors. He is not only one of the most prolific but also among the highest-paid actors in the industry. Jackson has starred in more than 150 movies, including live-action features and animated flicks. He has worked with many notable filmmakers and has achieved numerous accolades over the years.

Jackson gained recognition with movies like School Daze and Do the Right Thing, but his breakthrough came with Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. he won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Jules Winnfield in the cult classic film by Tarantino. He has worked with Tarantino in a few other films as well. Before the MCU, he was also a part of another popular film franchise. Samuel played Jedi Mace Windu in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

As per The Numbers,...