Samuel L. Jackson, the man with more gravitas than a dictionary in space, and John David Washington, who is essentially Denzel 2.0 (and that’s a compliment), are back at it again. This time, they’re reprising their roles in The Piano Lesson, a movie based on August Wilson’s play of the same name—because Broadway wasn’t enough. The world needed more drama, more history, and apparently, more pianos.
After Jackson and Washington slayed (not literally) on Broadway in 2022, it became painfully obvious that The Piano Lesson was too epic to stay confined to the confines of New York theater nerds. It had to be unleashed upon the masses. This movie was practically demanding to go viral, and who are we to deny the piano’s wish?
But let’s rewind. This isn’t Samuel L. Jackson’s first rodeo with The Piano Lesson. Oh no, he’s been tangoing with this story since way back in 1990, when he originated the role of Boy Willie. That’s right—Samuel’s relationship with August Wilson’s work has more history than your high school textbook.
For those living under a rock (or perhaps a very large piano), August Wilson was a legendary playwright who specialized in writing about African-American life in the 20th century. Think of him as the Shakespeare of Pittsburgh—minus the tights and tragic romances with teenagers. Wilson’s plays, like Fences and Gem of the Ocean, are still gracing stages across the globe even though the man himself has been kicking it with the ancestors since 2005. And in case you’re wondering, each of Wilson’s plays is set in a different decade, like a dramatic, soul-searching time machine.
Now, The Piano Lesson isn’t just about any old piano. This piano has faces carved into it—like, actual ancestor faces. (It’s like a family reunion, but much quieter.) The Charles family, whom the story revolves around, can’t decide what to do with this finely decorated chunk of history. Boy Willie, aka Samuel L. Jackson, thinks selling it will solve all their problems. “Let’s cash in and live large,” he says (probably). But his sister Berniece, played by Danielle Deadwyler, is having none of it. She’s ready to arm-wrestle fate itself to keep that piano in the family. The result? A family showdown of epic proportions.
The movie dives deep into issues like family legacies, identity, and, most importantly, the emotional weight of inherited furniture. It’s the kind of drama that makes your Thanksgiving squabbles look like a board game night.
Malcolm Washington, the director and co-screenwriter (and yes, he’s John David Washington’s brother—talent clearly runs deep in that gene pool), had some serious things to say about the film. “I honor the spirit of August Wilson and the legacy he left behind,” he said in an inspiring tone, likely while gazing wistfully into the horizon. He goes on to talk about how every family has a history, stories from the past, etc., etc. You know the drill—basically, this story is like a love letter to everyone’s grandma and grandpa, but with a lot more tension and a lot less knitting.
And get this: the movie isn’t just starring Jackson and Washington (which honestly, should be enough for anyone). It’s also got Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu (yes, the Erykah Badu), Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean, and Corey Hawkins. Basically, the cast is so stacked that even the extras are probably Oscar contenders.
So, when can you catch this masterpiece of piano-centered drama? It hits select theaters on November 8 (because only the cool kids get to see it first) and then, like any modern-day cultural artifact, it lands on Netflix on November 22. So whether you’re a theater aficionado or a person who just really, really likes watching deep stuff on your couch in sweatpants, The Piano Lesson has got you covered.