Denzel Washington, Viola Davis Become Instant Oscar Frontrunners in ‘Fences’

5 November 2016 10:36 PM, PDT | Variety - Film News | See recent Variety - Film News news »

Denzel Washington’s big-screen adaptation of August Wilson’s “Fences” has arrived, and it’s an Oscar player to reckon with this year. But that’s hardly a surprise for a project based on Pulitzer Prize-winning source material that has landed major Tony Awards in two separate Broadway productions.

The film unspooled for industry audiences Saturday, screening in Westwood before a crowd that included Screen Actors Guild nominating committee members, Academy voters and press. Washington was on hand for a post-screening Q&A moderated by Variety‘s Jenelle Riley, along with co-stars Viola Davis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson and Saniyya Sidney.

When asked what drew him to the role of Troy Maxson, Washington let loose a chuckle and quipped, “The role of Troy Maxson.” Indeed, when producer Scott Rudin first sent him the script for the film, which Wilson had penned himself, Washington wasn’t »

- Kristopher Tapley

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