Apple TV recently released the first trailer for ‘Emancipation’, a new drama which stars multiple award winning actor, Will Smith.
The slavery drama will mark Smith’s first role since being banned from attending the Oscars after he slapped Chris Rock while the latter was on stage earlier this year.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie was originally set to be released in cinemas in 2023. However, following the trailer release, Apple TV have announced it’ll instead hit cinemas on Dec. 2 and then begin streaming on Apple TV+ from Dec. 9.
Emancipation was initially set for a 2022 release date but Apple decided to scrap that date and push the film’s release to 2023 following the controversy involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars. Since then, Smith has publicly apologized for the slap but has basically been hidden away since the now infamous night.
“Throughout my career, I’ve turned down many films that were set in slavery. I never wanted to show us like that. And then this picture came along,” Will Smith said when talking about the film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, he added “And this is not a film about slavery. This is a film about freedom. This is a film about resilience, it’s a film about faith.”
The film follows a man named Peter (played by Will Smith) who escapes from slavery in Louisiana. It was inspired by the 1863 photos of a “Whipped Peter”. The historic image titled “The Scourged Back” shows the back of a former slave with enlarged scars from being beaten by his slave masters. According to the film, that image “ultimately contributed to growing public opposition to slavery.”
Check out the trailer here
Also, missed the new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer? Watch that here
