William Gallagher
Delayed by a lawsuit and Will Smith's infamous Oscar slap, Apple TV+ has announced "Emancipation" will be in theaters and streaming in December.
"Emancipation" has not had the easiest production, with COVID halting filming, and producers moving shooting away from its Georgia location over the state's voting laws. Then came a sexual harassment lawsuit, and Will Smith causing controversy by hitting Chris Rock during the Academy Awards.
After that Oscars slap, Variety said that it was "the unspoken truth" that the film was being pushed back into 2023 to distance it from the news. However, Apple's has seen its hopes for back to back Oscar wins — following "CODA" in 2021 — fading after critical flops such as "Luck" and "The Greatest Beer Run Ever."
Official Teaser — Emancipation
— Apple TV+ (@AppleTVPlus) October 3, 2022
Inspired by a true story, an enslaved man embarks on a perilous journey to reunite with his family. #Emancipation, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Will Smith, premieres in theaters December 2, streaming on Apple TV+ December 9 pic.twitter.com/sSj4o2ajw1
With Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" not ready in time for this awards season, Variety believes Apple sees "Emancipation" as its best shot.
Consequently, the Apple TV+ tweet announcing the film's release includes a one-week theatrical window. "Emancipation" will be released in theaters on December 2, 2022, before streaming on Apple TV+ from December 9.
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
12 Comments
Nope don’t want to see anything with Will Smith in it near future.
The Academy awarding a film that has an actor attached to it who has been banned from the ceremony for 10 years seems like a very very long longshot, but anything can happen i guess!
I thought it would release in late November, but I think the producers & Apple pushed it till December to give some distance from the Black Panther movie premiere on 11/11. I don't think there was ever any doubt that it would be released this year. My brother and his family attended a special screening in DC this past weekend.
Shame on you, Apple. For a company with such a strong social conscience this move is truly perplexing. Actors are now free to commit assault & battery and then face no tangible consequences? “That’s how we roll” said son, Jaden. Sorry, but they are a family unworthy of the fame and fortune they have garnered. The worst of nouveau riche.