Laurence Fishburne has spent decades defining powerful characters on screen — from commanding authority figures to deeply complex men grappling with identity, loyalty, and faith. Now, the veteran actor is shifting the focus inward, returning to the director’s chair for the upcoming feature The Rule of Nines, a project that places creative leadership back into his hands. Joining him in front of the camera is André Holland, an actor equally known for quiet intensity and layered performances.
For Fishburne, this isn’t a sudden career pivot — it’s a creative full circle moment. Long before he became one of the most recognizable talents in Hollywood, he was experimenting with filmmaking as a kid, energized by storytelling beyond acting alone. Although he made his official directing debut with the film Once in the Life back in 2000, the momentum never quite aligned for him to pursue directing consistently after that. Acting opportunities kept pulling him back into the spotlight — and he embraced them fully, building a career few can rival.
The Rule of Nines, however, arrives as the project that finally rekindled the directorial spark. Instead of waiting for the “perfect time,” Fishburne seems to have decided to create it — stepping forward not to chase trends but to shape something meaningful on his own terms. The screenplay, penned by John Connor, gives Fishburne the platform to focus on what he loves most: building emotionally driven stories and guiding performances rooted in authenticity.
Behind the scenes, veteran casting director and producer Bonnie Timmermann is helping bring the film together, while the casting of André Holland sets the artistic tone. Holland’s career has consistently reflected a dedication to narrative depth — never flashy, always emotionally precise. From indie dramas to prestige television and award-winning features, he’s carved out a reputation for choosing roles that emphasize humanity over spectacle. His partnership with Fishburne suggests a film more interested in internal conflict and connection than surface-level thrills.
What makes this moment particularly compelling is that Fishburne isn’t stepping away from acting to pursue directing — he’s expanding. Between ongoing projects in television, major franchises, and personal explorations into comedic roles, his creative curiosity remains wide open. The Rule of Nines becomes another dimension of that evolution, allowing him to tell stories not only through performance, but through the lens itself.
Rather than a “comeback” narrative, Fishburne’s return to directing feels more like a continuation — a seasoned artist reclaiming a part of his creative voice that simply waited its turn. And with Holland by his side, the collaboration hints at a cinematic experience driven by conversation, complexity, and emotional truth.
As production continues to take shape, The Rule of Nines is shaping up to be more than just another film credit — it represents a new chapter where one of Hollywood’s most respected figures moves forward not by reinventing himself, but by reconnecting with the storyteller he’s always been.
— REAVES // @wildreaves
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