After months of internal discussions, Apple TV+ will release theWill SmithmovieEmancipationin December. As the film had been wrapped before Smith’s Academy Awards controversy, there had been reports ofEmancipationgetting delayed to 2023 to allow time for the backlash against theKing Richardactor to wade. Though Smith did lose some fans over the incident, others have been willing to forgive the actor for the scandal which saw him smacking and screaming at Chris Rock while on live television.
In any case, Apple TV+ has set a theatrical premiere date forEmancipationfor Dec. 2 followed by its streaming premiere on Dec. 9. That will make the movie eligible for awards season in 2023, meaning Smith could potentially be nominated again for Best Actor a year after winning the award forKing Richard. It’s worth noting that while Smith has been banned from attending the Oscars for the next decade, he can still be nominated for acting awards. He just will not be able to attend any of the ceremonies in person.
Despite the backlash against Smith stemming from this year’s Oscars, a Best Actor nomination is a real possibility.Emancipationwas seen as an awards contender during production, and producers may be more confident in those odds after the film was recently given its first streaming, which was reportedly well-received by viewers. In the film, which is based on true events, Smith plays a slave who breaks away from his captors and joins the Union Army. You can get a sneak peek by watching the new teaser below.
Related:Chris Rock’s Mom Weighs In on Will Smith’s Oscars Slap: ‘He Really Slapped Me’
Emancipation Moves Forward With Its 2022 Release
Emancipationis directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by William N. Collage. Along with Smith, the film stars 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.
“It felt incredible,” Fuqua said of the positive reaction toEmancipationat its first screening, viaDeadline. “This was really our first time experiencing it with a complete film and an audience. To watch people react, gasping, talking and commenting on things that were happening in the film, really all the things you hope your movie would do for an audience. It moved them, entertained them. We had a great conversation about the subject matter 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 couple of years, making this movie. He is a wonderful person, an amazing partner, and he did an amazing job on this movie. Chris Rock’s a good guy, I know Chris as well…and I just pray it works out for them as friends, and we can move forward.”
Emancipationwill be released in theaters on Jul 07, 2025, followed by astreamingdebut on Apple TV+ on Dec. 9.
