"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" will be the next August Wilson play to be brought to the screen by Denzel Washington, according to The Stage, a United Kingdom-based website devoted to theater.

The site said Mr. Washington, director and star of "Fences," was speaking at a Q&A in central London when he revealed that the "Ma Rainey" screenplay had already been written. The play, set in 1927 Chicago, is among 10 by Mr. Wilson that are set in each decade of the 20th century and the only one not set in the late playwright's hometown of Pittsburgh.

"Fences," which hits theaters Christmas Day, is a Paramount Pictures release. Mr. Washington has said he will adapt other August Wilson plays for cable network HBO.

The Stage reported Mr. Washington’s pride in bringing Mr. Wilson's work to a wider audience. "He writes specific characters, but the themes are universal," the actor-director is quoted. "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."

Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg.

First Published: December 14, 2016, 10:53 p.m.