Denzel Washington to Adapt August Wilson's MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM for HBO

According to The Stage, August Wilson's Ma Rainey'S BLACK BOTTOM will be the next project that actor and director Denzel Washington will adapt for the screen. The play, which recently ran at theUK's National Theatre, will be part of Washington's previously announced plan to bring all 10 of the playwright's works to the screen over the next ten years. The first of the plays, a big-screen adaptation of FENCES, will hit theaters on Christmas Day. The other nine will be adapted for cable network HBO as part of a deal inked by Washington last year.

The actor confirmed that 'Ma Rainey' will be his next project during a Q&A in central London this week. He also confirmed that a screenplay for the adaptation is already in place. The Oscar winner shared that he was excited to bring Wilson's many works to a broader audience, commenting, "He writes specific characters, but the themes are universal. It could be anyone. He's just a brilliant writer and there's something in [his writing] that touches the humanity in us and that we can relate to."

FENCES hits theaters on Christmas Day, December 25, 2016. The film is directed by Washington from a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The film stars Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Jovan Adepo, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, and Saniyya Sydney. The film is produced by Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington and Todd Black.

The Broadway show received Tonys for best revival of a play, best actor in a play (Washington) and best actress in a play (Davis). Stephen McKinley Henderson also received a Tony nomination as best featured actor in a play. Other cast members from the 2010 production who will reprise their roles for the big screen, include Russell Hornsby, and Mykelti Williamson.

Watch a trailer for FENCES below: