First Look at Denzel Washington’s Eagerly Anticipated ‘Fences’

The Hollywood Reporter and Scott Feinberg got the exclusive for a first look at the screen adaptation of the celebrated August Wilson play Fences. Directed by and starring Denzel Washington, along with Viola Davis. Both Washington and Davis won Tonys for their performances in the play. Fences won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1987), Tony Award for Best Play (1987), and the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play (2010). The play adaptation is credited to August Wilson, according to IMDb.

Washington is, I think, an underrated director. Antwone Fisher and The Great Debaters did not resonate with the most mostly white film critics, nor the mostly white industry voters. On the other hand, times have changed. The voters have changed. Viola Davis’ performance here is probably the most anticipated female performance of the year. A nomination for her seems a near certainty. What’s not known is whether Washington himself will earn his first Best Director nomination.

Here are the first look images. The film is opening on December 25, 2016 – but hopefully we’ll get to see it before then.