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Will Smith53, plays the lead character Peter in Apple’s upcoming movie. emancipation. Though highly anticipated, the film has been delayed since Will slapped the comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars. Previously, production on the film was delayed in August 2021, according to positive COVID-19 tests on set meeting. An official trailer for the film has not yet been released.
emancipation is an action/thriller film that follows the story of a “runaway slave” who embarks on a journey through Louisiana during the United States’ Civil War era. According to the film’s IMDb page, Peter embarks on a journey north to escape the plantation owners who nearly ended his life. At the time of publication, the film’s official rating is unknown. Below is everything we know emancipationApple’s role in the release and more!

Release delayed after Oscar hit
On March 22, 2022, Will shockingly slapped Chris at the 94th Annual Academy Awards after Chris made a joke about Will’s wife. Jada Pinkett-Smith, 51. The joke Chris made was about Jada’s hair loss due to her alopecia. As Chris made the joke live on TV and in front of her colleagues, Will jumped onto the stage and slapped Chris across the face. “Keep my wife’s name out of your damn mouth,” Will yelled from his seat. Chris quickly replied, “I will, okay?” The remainder of their altercation was blanked out from the live TV broadcast.
Although the King Richard Star later apologized and even resigned from The Academy. emancipation was still delayed. News of the film’s delay surfaced on May 6, 2022, just over a month after Will’s incident at the Oscars. A source close to the film’s production confirmed this diversity that the new release date for the project is set for sometime in 2023, but an exact date has yet to be determined. Apple Original Films has not publicly addressed the situation at this time and has not done so at this time. When The New York Times Asked Apple for comment on the film on September 18, 2022, the company still declined to comment.
Where and when to see
emancipation is expected to have a theatrical release and will likely also be offered via Apple TV’s streaming service at a later date. And as of September 19, the studio’s decision on the release date remains in flux. However, the New York Post reported that multiple sources are claiming the film could be released in late 2022, but some members of the team are still pushing for a 2023 release. Check back here for updates on the film’s release date as more information comes to light. Apple Studios is distributing the project along with Will’s production company, Westbrook Studios.
cast and crew

While there isn’t much information about the film from Apple Studio, we do have some cast names! In addition to Will, viewers can expect the following faces: Luke cage star Mustafa Shakir, Westworlds Stefan Ogg, Charmaine Bingwa, Grant Harvey, Ben Fosterand many more.
Mustafa will play the role of Andre Cailloux, Steven will take on the character of Sergeant Howard, with Ben as the character of Fassel. Since no trailer has been released and the studio has kept much of the information top secret, not much else is known at this time.
Who is the creative team?
emancipationThe creative team at is really impressive! screenwriter bill collage is credited with writing this thriller, he is also known for writing Assassin’s Creed (2016), allegiance (2016) and Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014). Antoine Fuquaknown for the movies training day, the equalizer, and The guilty is the director for this project.
plot information
The upcoming drama is actually based on the tragic true story of a slave who lived in the southern United States during the Civil War. Peter, played by Will, escaped from a Louisiana plantation and joined the Union Army to fight against his oppressors. His heartbreaking life story includes being whipped nearly to death by his slave masters, whom he eventually escapes. A real photograph of Peter has been in the history books for decades and also inspired the film. The poignant photo is called “The Scourged Back” and was taken in April 1863, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website. emancipation captures Will in this impressive role, who is rumored to be a potential Oscar winner for the studio – before the slap.
shooting details
emancipation Filming was originally scheduled to begin in the state of Georgia, but the studio moved production to Louisiana in protest of the state’s voter laws. The Louisiana location also has a deeper meaning as that is where the real story actually took place. The film began filming back in July 2021 and was forced to pause on set following a spate of positive COVID-19 cases meeting. According to the film’s IMDb page, it’s officially in “post-production” as of this writing.