“It Was A Lot Of Pressure”: John David Washington On Honoring The Piano Lesson Legacy
John David Washington isn’t holding back about the weight of taking on a role once brought to life by the legendary Samuel L. Jackson. The 40-year-old actor stars as Boy Willie in Netflix’s new adaptation of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, stepping into a legacy that began in 1987 when Samuel first played the character at the Yale Repertory Theatre.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it was a lot of pressure,” John admitted at the Los Angeles premiere on November 19. Sharing the screen with Samuel, now 75, who plays family patriarch Doaker Charles in the film, only heightened the stakes.
“This man is a giant,” John David said, praising Jackson. “I mean, he deserves an Academy Award. I don’t know why he hasn’t had one yet, it’s insane, and so I’m standing on his shoulders, Michael Potts’ shoulders.”
Directed by John David’s brother Malcolm Washington in his feature film debut, the adaptation is truly a Washington family affair. Their sister Katia, 36, is one of the producers, and their father, Denzel Washington, 69, is also on board as a producer. “It made it so much fun and a bit nerve-racking because I wanted to do so well for them because they’re so brilliant, but that was a part of the fun challenge,” John stated.
The film also stars a stellar ensemble cast, including Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Erykah Badu, Corey Hawkins, and Skylar Aleece Smith. It builds on the momentum of the play’s Broadway revival in 2022, where Jackson and his wife, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, collaborated with John and Ray to bring the story to life.
Reflecting on the legacy of the role, John said, “Knowing that he originated the role — he being Samuel Jackson in 1987 — knowing that Charles Dutton did it in the nineties, I have some big shoes to fill. So I was nervous, but I went for it. That’s the challenge I signed up for.”
The Washington-Jackson connection runs deep, as Jackson has long been a friend of John David’s parents, Denzel and Pauletta Washington. “He’s a legend,” John David said, adding, “He should be getting more credit for what he’s done.”
For John David, this project is more than a family reunion — it’s an opportunity to honor the past while carving his own path.
