Will Smithis heading back to the big screen inEmancipation.
On Wednesday, Apple Original Films released the official trailer forEmancipation, which marks 54-year-old Smith’s first film since his incident at the 94thAcademy Awardsin March, during which he slappedChris Rockduring the award show’s nationally televised live broadcast.
InEmancipation, Smith stars as Peter, a man whose escape from slavery forces him to rely “on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family” as he runs from slave hunters and through Louisiana on his journey toward freedom.
One image from the set of photos called “The Scourged Back” shows the man’s wounded back after a severe whipping from his enslavers — a photograph that “ultimately contributed to growing public opposition to slavery,” according to the synopsis.
TheEmancipationtrailer ends with something of a full-circle moment as Peter is depicted posing for the now-famous “Scourged Back” photo, highlighting the movie’s real-life inspiration.
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On Tuesday, Fuqua, 56, said that he hoped audiences can look past Smith’s Oscars outburst and appreciateEmancipation.
HetoldVanity Fairthat while there was never any conversation “about the movienotcoming out,” the studio and filmmakers had to assess the situation and ultimately decided it didn’t need further postponement.
“Of course I wanted people to see the film,” said the director. “My conversation was always, ‘Isn’t 400 years of slavery, of brutality, more important than one bad moment?’ We were in Hollywood, and there’s been some really ugly things that have taken place, and we’ve seen a lot of people get awards that have done some really nasty things.”
The film’s Dec. 2 release date qualifies it for the upcoming awards season, and though Smith is banned from attending Academy events for the next 10 years, he isstill eligible to be nominated and winat the Academy Awards.
Aside from Smith and Foster,Emancipationalso stars 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.
source: people.com
