As it happens, the first official teaser trailers for both films was released today.
Fences comes to the Oscar race with an already gilded pedigree. Davis and Denzel Washington co-starred in the 2010 revival that swept the Tonys that year, picking up awards for both actors as well as for Best Revival of a Play. In the 1950s-set film, Washington reprises his role as a standout baseball player who never profited from his talent because the color line had not yet been broken in the major leagues and now works as a garbage man. Davis plays his wife, and the couple struggles with changing race relations in America through the lens of their sons own athletic ambitions.
Washington directs in his third go-around behind the lens and is expected to be a competitor in both the Best Actor and Best Director race as well. Basically, Fences could have Oscars all around. Which isn’t a surprise giving the story’s pedigree, and the previous Academy recognition for the main players. Davis has previously been nominated once each for Best Actress and Supporting Actress, while Washington has racked up 4 leading role nods and two supporting nods, winning one of each.
The film only completed shooting this summer, and post-production isn’t expected to end until mid-November. The film will debut in select theaters on December 16th and then find a wide release on Christmas Day.