Denzel Washington to Direct & Star in Adaptation of Stage Play ‘Fences’

While he’s obviously best known as an actor, Denzel Washington has actually directed twice before in his career, helming the small dramas Antwone Fisher and The Great Debaters. It’s been six years since he directed a movie, but it looks like the current Best Actor Oscar nominee is lining up a new project, because he told Empire that he’ll direct and star in a film adaptation of August Wilson’s stage play Fences. Washington is already familiar with the role, having won a Tony Award for his stage performance opposite Viola Davis on Broadway in 2010, so it should be a natural transition to bring the story from stage to screen. Here’s what Washington said to Empire, speaking about his passion for the material: “I love the theatre, directing is my second love and acting is my third, and I want to do all three…[Fences] reawakened me about the work, and my commitment …