The Pittsburgh Cycle

In 2020, [[George C. Wolfe]] directed the next installment, ''Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,'' starring Davis, [[Colman Domingo]], [[Glynn Turman]], [[Michael Potts (actor)|Michael Potts]], and [[Chadwick Boseman]] in his final film role.{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Jenelle |date=December 11, 2020 |title='Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Director George C. Wolfe on Filming August Wilson's Play and Chadwick Boseman's Final Film Role |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/features/ma-raineys-black-bottom-george-wolfe-chadwick-boseman-1234850748/ |access-date=March 28, 2026 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The film added a scene to the ending featuring an all-white band dully performing the work that Levee had written.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ashley |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Why Netflix's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' changed the play's ending |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-12-18/netflixs-ma-raineys-black-bottom-ending-explained |access-date=February 27, 2026 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Wolfe described the addition as a way to further communicate how the difficult work of black artists is often simplified and [[Cultural appropriation|appropriated]] by white performers.

In 2020, [[George C. Wolfe]] directed the next installment, ''Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,'' starring Davis, [[Colman Domingo]], [[Glynn Turman]], [[Michael Potts (actor)|Michael Potts]], and [[Chadwick Boseman]] in his final film role.{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Jenelle |date=December 11, 2020 |title='Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Director George C. Wolfe on Filming August Wilson's Play and Chadwick Boseman's Final Film Role |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/features/ma-raineys-black-bottom-george-wolfe-chadwick-boseman-1234850748/ |access-date=March 28, 2026 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The film added a scene to the ending featuring an all-white band dully performing the work that Levee had written.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ashley |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Why Netflix's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' changed the play's ending |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-12-18/netflixs-ma-raineys-black-bottom-ending-explained |access-date=February 27, 2026 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Wolfe described the addition as a way to further communicate how the difficult work of black artists is often simplified and [[Cultural appropriation|appropriated]] by white performers.

In 2024, Washington's son [[Malcolm Washington]] directed the most recent installment to date, of ''[[The Piano Lesson (2024 film)|The Piano Lesson]],'' starring his other son [[John David Washington]] (Boy Willie), Samuel L. Jackson (Doaker Charles), and [[Danielle Deadwyler]] (Berniece).{{Cite news |last=Wheeler |first=André |date=November 25, 2024 |title=How Malcolm Washington Pitched Denzel Washington on "The Piano Lesson" |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/02/how-malcolm-washington-pitched-denzel-washington-on-the-piano-lesson |access-date=March 28, 2026 |work=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} [[Barry Jenkins]] was originally the choice to direct, but had prior attachments to ''[[Mufasa: The Lion King]]'' and [[The Underground Railroad (miniseries)|''The Underground Railroad'']].{{Cite web |last=Barfield |first=Charles |date=October 1, 2020 |title='Piano Lesson': Denzel Washington Wants Barry Jenkins To Direct Samuel L. Jackson And John David Washington In A New Film |url=https://theplaylist.net/piano-lesson-barry-jenkins-samuel-l-jackson-john-david-washington-20201001/ |access-date=March 29, 2026 |website=The Playlist |language=en-US}} Deadwyler received nominations from the Screen Actors Guild Awards,{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Hannah |date=February 24, 2025 |title=It Took Over 400 Hours to Make Danielle Deadwyler's Sculptural Louis Vuitton Dress for the 2025 SAG Awards |url=https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/danielle-deadwyler-2025-sag-awards |access-date=March 28, 2026 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} the Critics Choice Awards,{{Cite web |title=Film Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards hosted by Chelsea Handler – Critics Choice Association |url=https://www.criticschoice.com/2024/12/12/film-nominations-announced-for-the-30th-annual-critics-choice-awards-hosted-by-chelsea-handler/ |access-date=March 28, 2026 |website=www.criticschoice.com}} and the [[Indie Spirit Awards]], where the film also earned a nomination in the [[Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature|Best First Feature]] category.{{Cite web |last=Lattanzio |first=Ryan |date=December 4, 2024 |title='Anora' and 'I Saw the TV Glow' Lead Spirit Award Noms with Six Each — See the Full List |url=https://www.indiewire.com/awards/results/independent-spirit-award-nominations-2024-see-full-list-1235072334/ |access-date=March 28, 2026 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Washington's son [[Malcolm Washington]] directed the most recent installment to date, of ''[[The Piano Lesson (2024 film)|The Piano Lesson]],'' starring his other son [[John David Washington]] (Boy Willie), [[Samuel L. Jackson]] (Doaker Charles), and [[Danielle Deadwyler]] (Berniece).{{Cite news |last=Wheeler |first=André |date=November 25, 2024 |title=How Malcolm Washington Pitched Denzel Washington on "The Piano Lesson" |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/02/how-malcolm-washington-pitched-denzel-washington-on-the-piano-lesson |access-date=March 28, 2026 |work=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} [[Barry Jenkins]] was originally the choice to direct, but had prior attachments to ''[[Mufasa: The Lion King]]'' and [[The Underground Railroad (miniseries)|''The Underground Railroad'']].{{Cite web |last=Barfield |first=Charles |date=October 1, 2020 |title='Piano Lesson': Denzel Washington Wants Barry Jenkins To Direct Samuel L. Jackson And John David Washington In A New Film |url=https://theplaylist.net/piano-lesson-barry-jenkins-samuel-l-jackson-john-david-washington-20201001/ |access-date=March 29, 2026 |website=The Playlist |language=en-US}} Deadwyler received nominations from the Screen Actors Guild Awards,{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Hannah |date=February 24, 2025 |title=It Took Over 400 Hours to Make Danielle Deadwyler's Sculptural Louis Vuitton Dress for the 2025 SAG Awards |url=https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/danielle-deadwyler-2025-sag-awards |access-date=March 28, 2026 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} the Critics Choice Awards,{{Cite web |title=Film Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards hosted by Chelsea Handler – Critics Choice Association |url=https://www.criticschoice.com/2024/12/12/film-nominations-announced-for-the-30th-annual-critics-choice-awards-hosted-by-chelsea-handler/ |access-date=March 28, 2026 |website=www.criticschoice.com}} and the [[Indie Spirit Awards]], where the film also earned a nomination in the [[Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature|Best First Feature]] category.{{Cite web |last=Lattanzio |first=Ryan |date=December 4, 2024 |title='Anora' and 'I Saw the TV Glow' Lead Spirit Award Noms with Six Each — See the Full List |url=https://www.indiewire.com/awards/results/independent-spirit-award-nominations-2024-see-full-list-1235072334/ |access-date=March 28, 2026 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}

During the release of ''The Piano Lesson,'' Washington and Black said that they next planned to adapt ''Joe Turner's Come and Gone'' for film.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=September 10, 2024 |title=Denzel Washington on Watching Son Malcolm Direct 'The Piano Lesson,' Which August Wilson Adaptation Is Next and Why 'Gladiator' Is a 'Hard Act to Follow' |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/denzel-washington-gladiator-2-malcolm-piano-lesson-1236139671/ |access-date=February 26, 2026 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

During the release of ''The Piano Lesson,'' Washington and Black said that they next planned to adapt ''Joe Turner's Come and Gone'' for film.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=September 10, 2024 |title=Denzel Washington on Watching Son Malcolm Direct 'The Piano Lesson,' Which August Wilson Adaptation Is Next and Why 'Gladiator' Is a 'Hard Act to Follow' |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/denzel-washington-gladiator-2-malcolm-piano-lesson-1236139671/ |access-date=February 26, 2026 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}