Will Smith’s new film, Emancipation, the actor’s first work since his infamous slap at this year’s Oscars, opens in December and is eligible for the upcoming awards season.
while releasing the trailer Regarding the movie on Monday, Apple said “Emancipation” will have a limited theatrical release on December 2nd and will be available on the company’s streaming service on December 9th. Considering the controversy surrounding Smith after he slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards ceremony in March, it will delay it until 2023. Apple declined to comment on plans for the film.
After the incident with Mr. Locke, Mr. Smith won the best actor Oscar that night for his performance in “King Richard.” It was his first Academy Award, but he said he “betrayed” that trust shortly after he resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Academy then barred him from the organization and all its events for the next ten years.
For “Emancipation,” which was considered an award contender before Mr. Smith slapped Mr. Locke, the punishment did not prevent his work from being nominated. The decision to release the film in a limited number of theaters suggests that Apple plans to push it forward for consideration for this year’s awards.
It can backfire. The Academy has shown that it is ready to move on from the slap. The organization’s chief executive, Bill Cramer, said he wasn’t even joking at the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony.
Liberation stars Mr. Smith as Peter, a real-life man who escaped slavery in the 1800s and fought for the Union Army. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by William N. Collage, the film had its first public screening in Washington on Saturday night during the 51st Annual Legislative Session of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. The event was followed by a Q&A session featuring Mr. Fuqua and Mr. Smith, who have been largely out of the public eye since the Oscar Awards.
Published by Mr Smith public apology on his YouTube channel on July 29th. It has been viewed nearly 3.9 million times.