Will Smith’s highly anticipated Apple film Emancipation screens for the first time in Washington DC Apple and the NAACP hosted a screening of Emancipation during the 51st Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, as reported by THR. The screening was followed by a discussion about the film with Fuqua, Will Smith and Mary Elliott, curator of American Slavery. The upcoming film has received positive reviews from critics.
Emancipation is based on a true story and follows Peter, played by Will Smith, as he flees his plantation in search of his family, outwitting hunters in cold blood and surviving the swamps of Louisiana along the way. Peter eventually joins the Union Army. During a medical examination, he photographed his bare back, which was scarred from a near-fatal beating at the hands of his former plantation supervisor. The Independent published the photo, clearly demonstrating the cruelty and barbarism of slavery in the United States.
The upcoming project is directed and produced by Fuqua. Emancipation has been written by William N. Collage. The film is produced by Smith and Jon Mone through Westbrook Studios, Joey McFarland through McFarland Entertainment, and Todd Black through Escape Artists. Chris Brigham, James Lassiter, Heather Washington, Cliff Roberts, Glen Basner and Scott Greenberg are executive producers.
The upcoming film will be the first project after Smith’s infamous slap in the face. Previously, the upcoming film was predicted to be one of the most promising of 2022, with some even hoping Smith could win back-to-back acting Oscars for Emancipation. However, after Smith’s controversial Oscar slap, the fate of the project was apparently unclear. Although the film does not have a confirmed release date, the projection indicates that Apple is looking to release it soon.
At the 2022 Oscars, Smith took the stage during the ceremony and shocked the world when he slapped host Chris Rock, who had made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Although the actor won an Academy Award for his performance in King Richards, he has to resign from the Academy. The actor has also been banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years. Additionally, some of Smith’s projects have been put on hold and several films have been cancelled. Since the 2022 Oscars incident, Smith has apologized to Rock, Rock’s family, his fellow Oscar winners, and more.
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