‘The Piano Lesson’ Netflix Movie: Everything We Know So Far

Everything we know about The Piano Lesson film adaptation in the works at Netflix.

Tigran Asatryan What's on Netflix Avatar

the piano lesson netflix movie everything we know so far

Picture: The Piano Lesson Play Assets

Netflix is set to produce an adaptation of the critically acclaimed play The Piano Lesson, which recently concluded its run on Broadway and featured Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington who will both reprise their roles. 

The movie will be directed by Malcolm Washington, for whom The Piano Lesson will be his directorial debut. Previously he was a second unit director on The Last Bookstore and The Trouble Man. The script is co-written by Malcolm Washington and Virgil Williams (Mudbound, 24, Criminal Minds).

The Piano Lesson is produced by Denzel Washington, Katia Washington, and Todd Black.

denzel washington kb inline 210118

(L-R) Malcolm Washington, Katia Washington, Pauletta Washington, and Denzel Washington

Netflix first announced it was adapting the August Wilson play in March 2021. It’s their second August Wilson adaptation following Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which scored Netflix two Oscars following its release in late 2021.


What’s the plot of The Piano Lesson?

1542 Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington in THE PIANO LESSON

Netflix’s The Piano Lesson is based on the 1987 play of the same name written by August Wilson to high critical and audience acclaim. It was nominated for multiple Tony Awards, and Wilson won a Pulitzer Prize in 1990.

The play was already adapted into a movie in 1995 and starred Charles S. Dutton, Alfre Woodard, Carl Gordon, and more.

In 2010 Denzel Washington and Viola Davis starred in the revival of August Wilson’s Fences on Broadway. They both won Tony Awards for their roles.

The play recently returned to Broadway, dubbed the “event of the season,” with the final broadway performance on January 29th, 2023. It held its opening night in October 2022 and has had rave reviews from critics and audiences like.

Here’s the plot synopsis for Netflix’s The Piano Lesson:

“At the heart of the story stands the ornately carved upright piano which, as the Charles family’s prized, hard-won possession, has been gathering dust in the parlor of Berniece Charles’s Pittsburgh home. When Boy Willie, Berniece’s exuberant brother, bursts into her life with his dream of buying the same Mississippi land that his family had worked as slaves, he plans to sell their antique piano for the hard cash he needs to stake his future. But Berniece refuses to sell, clinging to the piano as a reminder of the history that is their family legacy. This dilemma is the real “piano lesson,” reminding us that blacks are often deprived both of the symbols of their past and of opportunity in the present.”


Who is cast in The Piano Lesson?

In late February 2023 we got our first casting call including for roles such as Maretha, Grace, Boy Charles, Dolly, Crawley, Sutter, Young Boy Willie, Mama Ola, and Miss Ophelia.

In mid-April 2023, Netflix announced the first six major actors to be either reprising their roles from the play or debuting.

  • Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction, Avengers) as Doaker Charles
  • John David Washington (BlacKKKlansman, Tenet) as Boy Willie
  • Ray Fisher (Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Rebel Moon) as Lymon
  • Danielle Deadwyler (Till, The Harder They Fall)
  • Michael Potts (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Rustin) as Winning Boy
  • Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton, The Tragedy of Macbeth)
the piano lesson cast grid netflix

Cast grid for Netflix’s The Piano Lesson – Pictures courtesy of Netflix

On May 30th, Netflix confirmed Erykah Badu would make a cameo appearance with multiple musical performances for the movie.

The R&B, soul, and hip-hop singer is best known for tracks like On & On, Next Lifetime, Didn’t Cha Know, and Bag Lady.

Erykah Badu Photo Credit Jordan Smith

Picture: Jordan Smith


What’s the production status of The Piano Lesson?

Netflix’s The Piano Lesson is currently in pre-production, with filming being eyed for April 17th, 2023, start. Production is to take place primarily in Atlanta, US.

The scheduled wrap date for The Piano Lesson is tentatively set for June 17th, 2023.


What’s the Netflix release date for The Piano Lesson?

Netflix hasn’t announced the release date for The Piano Lesson, but given its potential April 2023 filming start, it would stand to reason to assume that the movie will be released sometime in the second half of 2024.


Are you looking forward to watching The Piano Lesson on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!

Written by

Tigran is our resident previews writer. He works on collecting everything known about upcoming Netflix Original projects and also is editor-in-chief of Redanian Intelligence. Resides in France.