Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in a 2010 production of August Wilson’s “Fences,” at the Cort Theater.Credit Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
During an interview at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Thursday night Denzel Washington said that he would produce adaptations of all 10 plays in August Wilson’s cycle about African-American life in the 20th century for HBO.
“I’ve been given the opportunity by the August Wilson estate, he did 10 plays—I’m directing, producing and acting in one, and I’m executive producing the other nine,” said Mr. Washington. “I made a deal with HBO. We’re going to do one a year for the next nine years.” HBO declined to comment.
AUGUST WILSON CENTER
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The August Wilson Center for African American Culture and its resident big band, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra
Denzel Washington Says He Will Bring 10 August Wilson Plays to HBO
by Dr. Nelson Harrison
Sep 20, 2015
During an interview at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Thursday night Denzel Washington said that he would produce adaptations of all 10 plays in August Wilson’s cycle about African-American life in the 20th century for HBO.
“I’ve been given the opportunity by the August Wilson estate, he did 10 plays—I’m directing, producing and acting in one, and I’m executive producing the other nine,” said Mr. Washington. “I made a deal with HBO. We’re going to do one a year for the next nine years.” HBO declined to comment.
In late August, Viola Davis told The Times that she would star in an adaptation of Mr.Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Fences” directed by Mr. Washington. The two actors worked together on that play when the show was revived on Broadway in 2010.
Mr. Wilson died in 2005, six months after the final play in the cycle, “Radio Golf,” debuted at the Yale Repertory Theater.