FILM · 2016 · USA

Fences

19 archived facts · 3 topics · 1 source · Last reviewed Oct 2026

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12 Interesting Facts About Fences

1. #002

   Denzel Washington and Spike Lee did this without being listed in the pre-production credits of August Wilson's original screenplay. Washington also did a great many more rewrites on set. Denzel asked to go uncredited in order to honor Wilson and to ensure that Wilson would be the only writer to receive any recognition and awards.

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2. #005

   The film was shot in August Wilson's hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where most of his plays were staged.

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3. #006

   Viola Davis's performance was campaigned as "Supporting" throughout awards season, though some awards experts saw this placement as category fraud. In an interview with Deadline, Denzel Washington said he did not agree with the placement but that it was Davis's own decision and that it would increase her chances of winning.

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4. #007

   This was the first screenplay adaptation of one of August Wilson's own acclaimed plays.

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5. #008

   When Paramount Studios first acquired the film rights to the play in 1987 with Eddie Murphy's involvement, it was largely because Murphy wanted to take on more roles in a more "serious" film: the role of 17-year-old Cory. However, in 1987 Murphy was a full ten years older than the character Cory, and numerous delays in shooting meant that Murphy was rapidly aging out of suitability for the role.

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6. #009

   Although August Wilson worked for a long time on the screenplay adaptation of his own play Fences, the film's screenplay was still incomplete when Wilson died in 2005. In January 2016, Deadline Hollywood reported that producer Scott Rudin had hired Tony and Pulitzer-winning playwright Tony Kushner to finish Wilson's screenplay. In December 2016, the New York Times reported that although Kushner did not receive writing credit on the final film, he was instead prominently credited as a co-producer.

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7. #010

   August Wilson insisted that the film adaptation of the play be directed by an African-American.

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8. #011

   In the film's opening scene, the most prominent building on the left side of the street bears the letters PITTSBURGH COURIER. The Courier was Pittsburgh's African-American newspaper and among the country's most respected papers. One of its sportswriters, Wendell Smith, advocated for ending the color line in major league baseball and traveled with Jackie Robinson throughout his 1947 rookie season with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

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9. #012

   This is the third feature film Denzel Washington has directed.

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10. #015

    Denzel Washington had previously directed Viola Davis in Antwone Fisher (2002).

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11. #016

    Denzel Washington felt comfortable with the source material since he had appeared in the play on Broadway.

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12. #017

    In Lila & Eve (2015), a recurring line refers to Viola Davis's character having a 'date with Denzel,' meaning staying home to watch films starring Denzel Washington. A year later, in this film, she actually plays his wife.

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