After months of internal discussions, Apple TV+ will Will Smith movie Emancipation in Dec. Since the film was wrapped up before Smith’s Academy Awards controversy, there had been reports of… Emancipation will be postponed until 2023 to allow time for the resistance against the King Richard wading actor. While Smith lost some fans to the incident, others were willing to forgive the actor for the scandal in which he punched and yelled at Chris Rock on live television.
At least Apple TV+ has set a theatrical premiere date for Emancipation for December 2, followed by the streaming premiere on December 9. This qualifies the film for the 2023 awards season, meaning Smith could be nominated for Best Actor again a year after winning the award for King Richard. It’s worth noting that while Smith won’t be allowed to attend the Oscars for the next ten years, he can still be nominated for acting awards. He just won’t be able to attend any of the ceremonies in person.
Despite the backlash against Smith at this year’s Oscars, a Best Actor nomination is a real possibility. Emancipation was seen as a contender for an award during production, and producers may be more confident in those odds after the film first streamed recently, which was reportedly well received by viewers. In the film, which is based on true events, Smith plays a slave who breaks free from his captors and joins the Union army. You can get a sneak peek by watching the new teaser below.
Emancipation moves forward with release in 2022
Emancipation is directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by William N. Collage. Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Owuor, Mustafa Shakir, Steven Ogg, Grant Harvey, Ronnie Gene Bivens, Jayson Warner Smith, Jabbar Lewis, Michael Luwoye, Aaron Moten and Imani Pullum star.
“It felt incredible,” Fuqua said of the positive response to Emancipation at the first showing, via Deadline. “This was really the first time we’ve experienced it with a full movie and an audience. To see people react, gasp, talk and comment on things that happened in the movie, really all the things you hope your movie would do.” in front of an audience. It moved them, it entertained them. We had a great conversation about the topic that was important to them. So, yeah, it was pretty amazing.”
On the controversy surrounding Smith, Fuqua added: “Will Smith is a great guy. I was with him for a few years and made this movie. He’s a great person, a great partner, and he’s done a great job on this movie Chris Rock is a good guy, I know Chris too…and I pray it works out for them as friends, and we can move on.”
Emancipation will hit theaters on December 2, 2022, followed by a streaming debut on Apple TV+ on December 9.