"This man is a giant. I mean, he deserves an Academy Award," John David Washington says of family friend and 'The Piano Lesson' costar Samuel L. Jackson
John David Washington is opening up about acting in a role Samuel L. Jackson originated.
"I'm not going to lie to you, it was a lot of pressure," the actor tells PEOPLE at the Tuesday, Nov. 19 Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's adaptation of the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson. John David, 40, stars in the movie as Boy Willie opposite Jackson, 75, who played the role when the play first opened at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 1987.
In the new film, Jackson portrays family patriarch Doaker Charles, while John David's brother Malcolm Washington directs in his feature film debut. "I felt it early days, early stages. This man is a giant. I mean, he deserves an Academy Award," John David says of Jackson, a longtime friend of his parents Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington.
"I don't know why he hasn't had one yet, it's insane, and so I'm standing on his shoulders, Michael Potts' shoulders," John David adds. "He's a legend. He should be getting more credit for what he's done."
Related: Denzel Washington Praises Longtime Friend Samuel L. Jackson, Who Stars in Son's First Film: 'My Children's Uncle'
Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson previously teamed up with John David and Ray Fisher to revive The Piano Lesson on Broadway in 2022. Denzel, 69, is a producer on the new film, and Fisher, 37, also costars in the new movie along with Danielle Deadwyler, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean and Corey Hawkins.
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"Knowing that he originated the role -- he being Samuel Jackson in 1987 -- knowing that Charles Dutton did it in the nineties, I have some big shoes to fill," John David says. "So I was nervous, but I went for it. That's the challenge I signed up for."
Related: Denzel Washington and Wife Pauletta Support Sons John David and Malcolm at The Piano Lesson Premiere
The new movie is quite the Washington family affair; John David and Malcolm's sister Katia, 36, is also among The Piano Lesson's producers. "It made it so much fun and a bit nerve-racking because I want to do so well for them because they're so brilliant, but that was a part of the fun challenge," John David tells PEOPLE of working so closely with his family members.