The Piano Lesson: Release date, Trailer, & more About Samuel L. Jackson & John David Washington film

Get ready for a powerful cinematic experience as Netflix brings August Wilson's acclaimed play, The Piano Lesson, to life on screen. Set in the poignant backdrop of 1936 Pittsburgh, the film tells the story of the Charles family and their cherished heirloom piano, which symbolizes their complex history and heritage. This celebrated play, originally written in 1987, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1990 and has been recognized as one of Wilson’s most significant works.

The highly anticipated film is directed by Malcolm Washington in his feature debut and features a star-studded cast, including Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington, who reprise their roles from the recent Broadway revival. The Piano Lesson is set to premiere on Netflix and in limited theaters soon. The trailer has already generated excitement, showcasing the film's emotional depth and compelling narrative.

In this article, we’ll explore everything we know about The Piano Lesson, from the cast and plot details to its release timeline. Stay tuned as we continue to update this article with the latest information and news leading up to the film's release!

Release date & Where to Watch

The Piano Lesson is set to premiere globally on Netflix on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, after a limited two-week theatrical release in select US theaters beginning on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. Prior to its streaming debut, the film will have its first screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. 

The movie has been rated PG for strong language, violent content, some suggestive references, and smoking, with a confirmed runtime of 2 hours and 5 minutes.

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Plot

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household, centering on a cherished heirloom—a piano intricately carved by an enslaved ancestor, documenting the family’s history. The narrative unfolds as Berniece Charles struggles to preserve the piano as a symbol of their legacy, while her brother, Boy Willie, arrives with a plan to sell it to buy the Mississippi land their family once worked as slaves. This central conflict explores the tension between honoring the past and forging a future.

Adapted from August Wilson’s 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, the film delves deep into themes of heritage, memory, and identity. The story emphasizes how the characters' choices and conflicts reflect broader struggles within the Black American experience, particularly the tension between holding onto the past and seizing present opportunities. 

The Charles family's dilemma serves as the film’s core, capturing the enduring relevance of Wilson’s exploration of history and identity in Black America.

Cast 

• Danielle Deadwyler (Till and The Harder They Fall) as Berniece
• Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, The Avengers, and Argylle) as Doaker 
• John David Washington (BlackKklansman, Tenet, and The Creator) as Boy Willie
• Ray Fisher (Zack Snyder's Justice League and Rebel Moon) as Lymon
• Michael Potts (Rustin and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) as Wining Boy
• Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) as Avery
• Skyler Aleece Smith as Maretha
• Erykah Badu as Lucille
• Stephan James as Boy Charles
• Malik J Ali as Willie Boy
• Charity Jordan as Mama Berniece
• Isaiah Gunn as Young Boy Willie
• Matrell Smith as Crawley
• Jerrika Hinton as Grace
• Gail Bean as Dolly
• Hanniel Joseph as Papa Boy Walter
• Pauletta Washington as Mama Ola
• Olivia Washington as Young Mama Ola

Official Trailer

In the newly released trailer for the film adaptation of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington reprise their stage roles. The trailer opens with a powerful scene where Boy Willie (Washington) and his niece (Skylar Smith) touch the carved figures of a historic piano, symbolizing the racial history embedded in the instrument. A tense voiceover from Washington underscores the trailer, stating, "You feel that? That's your family. That's your blood.”

On Nov. 18, 2024, a second official trailer was released. It begins with a haunting track and Samuel L. Jackson saying, "That piano, is the story of our whole family." Check out the trailer below:

When was The Piano Lesson Filmed?

Netflix’s The Piano Lesson has completed filming, with production taking place primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, starting on April 17, 2023. Although the original story is set in Pittsburgh, the production team chose Georgia as the main filming location, surprising some fans. In addition to Atlanta, the movie also shot scenes in Macon, Georgia. According to WGXA, the filmmakers were so impressed with Macon that they decided to film additional scenes there. The scheduled wrap date for The Piano Lesson was June 17, 2023.

Behind the Scenes

Malcolm Washington makes his feature directing debut with The Piano Lesson, a film that he also co-wrote alongside Virgil Williams, known for Mudbound, 24, and Criminal Minds. While this marks his first time at the helm of a feature film, Malcolm is no stranger to Hollywood, having previously worked as an assistant on major films like Jon Favreau's Chef and TV series like Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It. He also served as a second unit director on projects such as The Last Bookstore and The Trouble Man. 

Produced by Denzel Washington, Katia Washington, and Todd Black, The Piano Lesson pays homage to the legacy of acclaimed playwright August Wilson. Malcolm Washington emphasized in a press statement that the film honors Wilson's spirit, particularly through the powerful performances of Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece, John David Washington as Boy Willie, and Samuel L. Jackson as Doaker. Two of Wilson’s other works, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Fences, were previously adapted into Oscar-winning films.

The film draws inspiration from the recent stage production, which featured many of the same actors and was directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson. The stage version was the highest-grossing revival of a play on Broadway and the most successful Wilson production to date.

With Denzel Washington and Todd Black as producers and Jennifer Roth, Constanza Romero Wilson, and Katia Washington serving as executive producers.