Will Smith film Emancipation to stream on Apple following slap controversy

Apple made a surprise announcement that Will Smith's new film Emancipation will arrive to theatres this December and streaming on Apple soon after. Following Smith's outburst at the 2022 Oscars, the film had been held in limbo until now.

Smith has been keeping a low profile since the slap incident, where he slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. The 54-year-old was given a ten-year ban from the Oscars ceremony, and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He issued an apology to Rock through a heartfelt Instagram video, which went unaccepted.

Now, Smith is making his reappearance to the big screen with slavery drama Emancipation. He stars as a fugitive from slavery seeking freedom while escaping north from Louisiana. Smith's character is based on a true story of a slave known as 'Whipped Peter', whose mutilated back was photographed and published in 1863, serving as proof of the horrors of American slavery for the abolitionist movement.

Smith wrote, "This was the hardest movie I’ve ever made. Blood, Sweat & Tears… LITERALLY! Shoutout to Apple who doubled (and tripled) down on their commitment to deliver this epic story to the world."

The film directed by Antoine Fuqua will hit cinemas on December 2nd, and streaming on Apple TV+ the 9th.

The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) held an advanced screening of the film this past weekend. The film will be released just in time to be in the running for the 2023 Academy Awards. Although Smith cannot attend, he can still be nominated and win.

Watch the official teaser below: