Paramount Pictures has revealed the first Fences trailer for the new directorial effort from Denzel Washington. The drama is a feature film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning stage play by August Wilson which takes place in the 1950s and revolves around an African-American former baseball star who now works as a trash collector, crossing the race barrier to serve as a driver, not just a barrel lifter. Washington and Viola Davis starred in the 2010 revival of the play, earning Tony Awards for their performances, and they reprise their roles in the feature film adaptation, which sees Washington stepping into the director’s chair of a drama that tackles American race relations head on.

But on display here in this first teaser trailer is less an indictment of race relations in America and more a story about the deep and complicated emotional ties between family members. Washington's Troy does not come across as one of the heroic figures the Oscar-winner has been known to play but rather a bitter man disappointed with his lot in life, toughing it out to provide for his family as father and husband. Davis' Rose is just as tough, standing up to Troy and his selfishness. And though this family drama may be at the heart of the film, the full experience promises to tackle much, much more.

Check out the first Fences trailer below. The film opens in theaters on December 25th and also stars Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, and Saniyya Sidney.

FENCES is directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by August Wilson, adapted from Wilson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-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 Denzel Washington, Todd Black and Scott Rudin.

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Image via Paramount Pictures
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Image via Paramount Pictures