Denzel Washington-Led Big Screen Adaptation of Tony Winning FENCES Gets Premiere Date

Theater fans must mark December 25th on their calendars as the nationwide premiere date for Paramount Pictures' big screen adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony winning play FENCES. The release date will make the film eligible for Oscar consideration.

As previously reported, Denzel Washington will direct and star in the film alongside Viola Davis, Mykelti Williamson and Russell Hornsby. FENCES will open in New York and Los Angeles on December 16th before opening nationwide on Christmas Day. The project began production in April.

Washington and Davis will reprise their 2010 Tony Award-winning roles as Troy and Rose Maxson. Williamson also returns to his Broadway role of Gabriel Maxson, while Hornsby revisits his role as Lyons Maxson. Scott Rudin and Todd Black are producing the movie along with Washington for Paramount Pictures.

Fences follows the story of Troy, "who had his eye set on being a baseball great, but whose days have been relegated to trash collecting. Troy lives with his wife, son Cory and his younger brother Gabriel, an ex-soldier whose war injury to his head has caused him psychological damage. Lyons is a musician and Troy's son from a previous relationship.

Photo credit: Joan Marcus