Denzel Washington confirms what his next August Wilson adaptation will be. Wilson is an award winning playwrite who is known for acclaimed works such as Fences, The Piano Lesson, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Wilson’s 1985 play Fences won a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award, and was later adapted into the 2016 film Fences. Washington directed, produced, and starred in the film. The Fences cast also included Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Jovan Adepo.
Speaking with Variety, Washington revealed what his next Wilson adaptation would be. The actor exclusively confirmed that he would be adapting Joe Turner’s Come And Gone. According to Washington, he and his team “haven’t talked about anybody involved in that yet, though.” Thus, the Joe Turner’s Come and Gone adaptation is still very clearly in the early stages of development. Check out the full quote from Washington below:
We haven’t talked about anybody involved in that yet, though. Well…we haven’t talked to you guys about it.
What This Adaptation Could Look Like
The Play Is Part Of August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is a play written by Wilson in 1984. Set in the early 1910s, the play tells the story of Harold Loomis, a Black man who travels with his daughter across the country to find his estranged wife. On the journey, he has to reconnect with his heritage and regain a sense of his identity and purpose. The play is part of Wilson’s series of stories about the African-American experience that chronicle selected tales by decade. This series of plays is referred to as The Pittsburgh Cycle or The Century Cycle.
Though Joe Turner’s Come and Gone will also tackle issues of racism, family, and identity, much like Fences, an enticing element of this adaptation is that it had a starkly different plot than Washington’s previous Wilson adaptation. Though they experience martial tension, Troy and Rose Maxson are seen together throughout most of Fences. In Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, there is distance between Harold and his wife Martha, creating a different dynamic. While the writing style may be similar, it will be interesting to see how this new adaptation takes on the Wilson play.
Who Should Be Cast In Joe Turner’s Come And Gone?
A Particular Actor Has A Lot Of August Wilson Experience
In terms of casting for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, I think one logical choice would be Viola Davis. The actor won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Fences and was nominated again for her lead role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. In addition to these film credits, Davis is versed in performing Wilson’s work on the stage, as she was part of the Broadway revival of Fences in 2010. If Washington were able to get Davis for the role of Martha in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, it would be a great continuation of Davis’ career working with Wilson’s plays.
Source: Variety
