Paramount Pictures announced that it, in association with Bron Creative and MACRO, will make Academy Award-winner Denzel Washingtons FENCES, in which he will star and direct. Based on August Wilsons screen adaptation of his Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, FENCES will co-star Academy Award-nominee and Emmy-winner Viola Davis (THE HELP). Both actors are Tony Award-winners for their performances in the plays 2010 Broadway revival.
The film is produced by Washington, Academy Award-winner Scott Rudin (STEVE JOBS, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN) and Todd Black (SOUTHPAW, THE GREAT DEBATERS); and executive produced by Eli Bush (STEVE JOBS); Bron Creatives Aaron L. Gilbert (THE BIRTH OF A NATION, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS), Jason Cloth and Andy Pollack (I SAW THE LIGHT, THE BIRTH OF A NATION) and MACROs Charles D. King (MUDBOUND) and Kim Roth (INSIDE MAN), along with co-executive producer Poppy Hanks (BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS).
Said Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, This important and beloved play has been a passion of Denzels for many years and it is with great excitement that we embark together to bring his dream project to the big screen.
FENCES is the story of a one-time promising baseball player, now working as a Pittsburgh garbage collector, and the complicated relationships with his wife, son, and friends. The films ensemble cast includes Stephen Henderson (LINCOLN), Russell Hornsby (Grimm), Mykelti Williamson (FORREST GUMP), Jovan Adepo (The Leftovers) and Saniyya Sydney.
FENCES marks Washingtons third outing behind the camera following THE GREAT DEBATERS and ANTWONE FISHER. Paramount and Washington last collaborated in 2012 on the critically-lauded, live-action thriller FLIGHT, in which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. The Robert Zemeckis-directed film also took in more than $160 million worldwide at the box office.
FENCES, co-financed by Bron Studios, MACRO, and Paramount Pictures, will begin shooting in late April in Pittsburgh.