the piano lesson

John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, and Samuel L. Jackson Star in ‘The Piano Lesson’ Trailer

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Premiering on Netflix on November 22, 2024, and currently in select theaters, The Piano Lesson brings August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play with a star-studded cast to the screen. Directed by Malcolm Washington in his feature debut, the film features a compelling story about family, legacy, and the ghosts of the past.

At the story’s heart is a battle over a prized heirloom piano, a symbol of the Charles family’s history. John David Washington plays Boy Willie, a man eager to sell the piano to build his fortune. His sister, Berniece, portrayed by Danielle Deadwyler, refuses to part with the piano, as it represents the family’s heritage. Samuel L. Jackson stars as their uncle, Doaker, who tries to mediate the escalating conflict but finds himself confronting long-buried family secrets.

Adapted from Wilson’s iconic play, The Piano Lesson explores themes of identity, resilience, and the complexities of intergenerational trauma. With a screenplay by Virgil Williams and Malcolm Washington, the film features an all-star ensemble cast including Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, and Corey Hawkins.

Produced by Oscar-nominated Denzel Washington and Todd Black, The Piano Lesson brings to life Wilson’s powerful examination of family and legacy. The film’s score is composed by Alexandre Desplat, adding another layer to the gripping narrative. As the Charles family contemplates their past, the movie reveals startling truths about how history is shaped, and who ultimately gets to decide its meaning.

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Erykah Badu Joins Cast Of “The Piano Lesson”

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The Piano Lesson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson. It is the fourth in Wilson’s The Pittsburgh Cycle, a ten-play series about the Black experience in 20th Century Pittsburgh. The series, in which each play is set in a different decade, also includes Fences. Fences was later adapted into an Oscar-nominated film.

While a TV film of The Piano Lesson was released in the 1990s, a feature film adaptation has been in the works since 2020. The play focuses on the Charles family in 1936 and more specifically, the debate over what to do about the family grand piano. The film already has Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington attached but recent news has added another big hitter to the cast.

Erykah Badu Joins “The Piano Lesson”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: Francessco Risso and Erykah Badu attend the Preview of The Marni x Erykah Badu Collection on April 29 April 29, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Jackson and Washington are both set to reprise their roles from a recent stage adaption of The Piano Lesson. However, they will be joined be in a small musical cameo by four-time Grammy winner Erykah Badu. First coming to prominence with her three-time platinum album Baduizm, Badu was a staple of the R&B scene of the 2000s. However, it has been some time since Badu has released new music. Her latest album, the mixtape But You Can’t Use My Phone, came out in 2015. Furthermore, she also revealed a single, “Tempted”, in 2019 as part of the soundtrack for The Photograph.

While Badu’s role is said to be “small”, the performer does have an impressive acting resume under her belt already. In 1999, she was nominated for a SAG award for The Cider House Rules. She has also appeared in Black Dynamite, Legends of Chamberlain Heights, and What Men Want. The Piano Lesson is set to be directed by Malcolm Washington, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Virgil Williams. Williams is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter with credits such as Mudbound, 24, and ER. However, The Piano Lesson does not have a release window at the time of the writing. Follow all the latest film news here at HotNewHipHop.

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Erykah Badu Will Make A Special Appearance In Netflix’s Upcoming Film Adaptation Of ‘The Piano Lesson’

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Erykah Badu is set to hit the screen soon. Today (May 31), Netflix announced that the “On & On” singer will be joining the cast of the feature film adaptation of The Piano Lesson.

Badu joins the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, and Corey Hawkins in this post-Depression-era story.

The Piano Lesson takes place in 1936 in Pittsburgh following the Great Depression. The story chronicles the members of the Doaker Charles household and their family piano, which contains carvings and messages from an enslaved ancestor of the Charles family.

Jackson and Washington have previously starred in a Broadway adaptation of The Piano Lesson. This show recently concluded its run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre after playing 27 previews and 124 regular performances. This edition of The Piano Lesson is the highest-grossing revival of a play on Broadway and the highest-grossing August Wilson production on Broadway ever.

The show also earned two Tony awards — Best Revival Of A Play and Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Play, the latter for Samuel L. Jackson’s performance.

At the time of writing, Badu’s role in the upcoming film adaptation of The Piano Lesson has not yet been specified.