London, Vue West End (Leicester Square), December 2 2022
Jon Mone, David Denman, Charmaine Bingwa, Will Smith, Antoine Fuqua, Ben Foster, William N. Collage and Todd Black attend the Apple Original Films European Premiere for Emancipation at Vue West End (Leicester Square) on December 2, 2022 in London, England. Emancipation premieres in select UK cinemas and globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, December 9, 2022.
Emancipation is a 2022 American historical action film directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Will Smith as an enslaved man in Louisiana in the 1860s who escapes his plantation. The film, written by William N. Collage, is loosely based on the real-life story of Gordon (named Peter in the film) ,a former slave, and the photographs of his bare back, heavily scourged from an overseer's whippings, that were published worldwide in 1863, giving the abolitionist movement proof of the cruelty of slavery.The film also stars Ben Foster and Charmaine Bingwa. Producer Joey McFarland began researching the story of Gordon in 2018, and hired Collage to write the script. The film was officially announced in June 2020, with Fuqua to direct and Smith to star. Filming took place in Louisiana between July and August 2021, with Apple paying $130 million to acquire the rights to the film, outbidding several other studios. Emancipation had its first screening in Washington, D.C. on October 1, 2022, and was released in select cinemas on December 2, 2022, before a streaming release on December 9, by Apple TV+. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who liked the cinematography, action scenes, and Smith's performance, but criticized the screenplay, plot, and its handling of real-life events.
Emancipation tells the triumphant story of Peter (Will Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom. The film is inspired by the 1863 photos of "Whipped Peter," taken during a Union Army medical examination, that first appeared in Harper's Weekly. One image, known as "The Scourged Back," which shows Peter's bare back mutilated by a whipping delivered by his enslavers, ultimately contributed to growing public opposition to slavery.
Warner Bros, MGM, Lionsgate, and Universal Pictures bid on the film before Apple ultimately won distribution rights for over $130 million. In August 2021, Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Owuor, and Mustafa Shakir joined the cast.Smith earned $35 million for his part in the film. Principal photography was expected to begin on May 3, 2021, in Los Angeles. It was later set to begin on June 21, 2021, in Georgia, but on April 12, it was announced that the film would be shot elsewhere due to the recently-enacted Election Integrity Act of 2021. Smith and Fuqua said in a joint statement: "We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access." The location move was reported to have cost approximately $15 million. Filming was announced to take place in New Orleans from July 12 to August 21, 2021. On August 2, filming paused for five days as a result of several positive COVID-19 tests. Additional casting for the film was announced in November and December.
Synopsis :
The glorious story of Peter, a man who escapes slavery through his intelligence, unwavering faith and love for his family. Between ruthless hunters in pursuit and the dreaded Louisiana swamps, he sets out to win his freedom.
Emancipation
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Written by William N. Collage
Produced by Todd Black, Joey McFarland, Jon Mone, Will Smith
Starring Will Smith, Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa
Cinematography : Robert Richardson
Edited by Conrad Buff IV
Music by Marcelo Zarvos
Production companies : Apple Original Films, Overbrook Entertainment, Westbrook Studios, McFarland Entertainment, Escape Artists
Distributed by Apple Studios Release dates : December 2, 2022 (United States), December 9, 2022 (Apple TV+)
Running time : 132 minutes
