Danielle Deadwyler aims to teach the Oscars about “The Piano Lesson” this awards season.
The critically acclaimed actor, who stars in Malcolm Washington’s directorial debut, “The Piano Lesson,” as the emotionally and spiritually charged widow Berniece, will be submitted for supporting actress consideration this awards season, Variety reports exclusively. Her co-star, John David Washington, will also campaign as the film’s sole lead, while Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts and Corey Hawkins will each vie for supporting actor recognition. The film will also be submitted in all major categories, including best picture and several artisan categories.
Adapted from the late playwright August Wilson’s “Century Cycle,” the film is set in 1936 Pittsburgh. It follows the Charles family as they grapple with familial trauma and the literal ghosts of their ancestors. The story is a history of violence, cruelty and oppression, symbolized through intricate carvings on a family piano. The fate of this family heirloom — whether it will be sold or preserved as a memorial to the sacrifices and suffering of past generations — drives much of the narrative.
Though Deadwyler’s role straddles the line between lead and supporting, her portrayal of Berniece has a history of being campaigned in the supporting category during awards seasons. The play, written by Wilson in 1987, saw two critically acclaimed Broadway productions in 1990 and 2023. In those productions, Berniece was portrayed by S. Epatha Merkerson and Danielle Brooks, respectively. Merkerson earned a Tony nomination for best featured actress in a play for her performance.
The Piano Lesson. Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece in The Piano Lesson.
Courtesy of Netflix
Deadwyler was considered a near-lock for an Oscar nomination for her gripping portrayal of grieving mother and Civil rights activist Mamie Till in the biopic “Till” (2022), for which she received a SAG nomination for best actress. However, she became one of the most notable Oscar snubs of the year. Similarly, John David Washington faced the same disappointment with his breakout role as detective Ron Stallworth in Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” (2018), earning nods from the Golden Globes and SAG Awards but missing out on an Academy Award nomination.
It has been 30 years since Jackson, the highest-grossing actor of all time, was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the slick-talking Jules Winnfield in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” (1994). In “The Piano Lesson,” Jackson plays the endearing uncle, Doaker Charles, a role that earned him a Tony nomination in the 2023 Broadway production. Despite his prominence, Jackson may face stiff competition from Ray Fisher, whose portrayal of the gullible Lymon has generated significant buzz.
Malcolm Washington, making his feature directing debut, will likely be in contention for the Directors Guild of America’s first-time director award, but also be a contender for the best adapted screenplay alongside co-writer Virgil Williams, an Oscar nominee for “Mudbound” (2017).
This marks the third film adaptation of an August Wilson play, produced by two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington and his longtime producing partner, Todd Black. The pair received a best picture nomination for “Fences” (2016), which Denzel Washington directed. Washington also has a prominent role in the upcoming epic sequel “Gladiator II,” which could put him in the thick of the race.
“The Piano Lesson” will open in theaters on Nov. 8 before making its streaming debut on Netflix on Nov. 22.
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