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Following numerous delays after his actions at the most recent Oscars, Will Smith’s Emancipation is finally set to be released next February…
Despite turning down numerous films concerning the theme of slavery in the past (most notably Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained), Will Smith has finally made his debut in the genre, starring in the upcoming Apple film Emancipation. Helmed by esteemed director Antoine Fuqua, the new epic is based on the true story of “Whipped Pete”, a slave who escaped a plantation to fight in the American Civil War.
The teaser for the film matches the direness of the subject matter, treating us to a dark depiction of Smith’s journey through 19th century in America in a bid to reunite with his family. The various scenes displayed in the two-minute teaser show the 54-year-old in what appears to be one of his most physically and mentally demanding roles yet, with a montage of sequences showing him navigate various battlefields and perilous terrain. It all adheres to his statement on Instagram that the film was “the hardest movie I’ve ever made. Blood, Sweat & Tears… LITERALLY!”, and is eerily reminiscent of the intensity he displayed in the 2001 boxing biopic, Ali.
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It’s no doubt a role that’ll place Will Smith square in next year’s Oscar race, despite his being banned from attending the awards for the next decade. Check out the trailer for Emancipation below.
