Do not count on an “Emancipation” for Oscar winner Will Smith in 2022.
Initially anticipated to drop on the autumn competition circuit later this yr, the actor’s subsequent movie from Apple, and co-produced by his manufacturing firm Westbrook Studios, is planning to delay the movie’s launch to someday in 2023. (Watch above.)
Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Coaching Day), the film would have been the primary launch for Smith following his assault on comic Chris Rock throughout the 94th Oscars. Consequently, he was banned from attending the Oscars and different Academy-related occasions for 10 years.
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Although the studio didn’t formally date Emancipation, it was anticipated to be the streamer’s subsequent potential awards challenge this yr after successful finest image for CODA.
Whereas Apple has not shared an official date, one supply aware of the scenario stated “it is the unstated fact” that the action-drama is not going to hit the platform in 2022.
Nevertheless, the identical supply additionally revealed there have been ongoing inner discussions between Apple executives and the filmmakers on how a launch within the fall may transfer ahead, but it surely appears extremely unlikely.
Within the weeks main as much as this yr’s Oscars, the excitement was already rising concerning Emancipation.
One filmmaker, who requested to stay nameless, advised Selection earlier than the Academy Awards that they noticed early footage from the movie: “Will’s going to win back-to-back.” On the time, the quote was referencing his upcoming finest actor win for King Richard.
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Smith’s altercation with Rock could be a dominating matter surrounding promotion for the movie, whether or not Smith was concerned or not. Whereas the slap controversy is a outstanding issue within the predicted shift, a number of sources shared that Fuqua continues to be deep in post-production and is probably not prepared in time for a 2022 bow.
The movie suffered quite a few delays as a consequence of transferring the manufacturing from Georgia to Louisiana in protest of the state’s voting restrictions legal guidelines, the destruction attributable to Hurricane Ida and the pause as a consequence of COVID circumstances in August 2021.
One other contributing factor is a packed slate for Apple within the second half of the yr. Lots of its movies may very well be marketed for a considerable awards push.
The corporate has the Sundance Movie Pageant Viewers Award winner Cha Cha Actual Clean, with Dakota Johnson, dropping on June 17, earlier than unveiling animated characteristic Luck” from its newly acquired Skydance Animation on August 5.
As well as, Apple has a number of undated movies anticipated, notably Martin Scorsese’s The Killers of the Flower Moon with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jesse Plemons. The Oscar-winning director of The Departed can also be nonetheless within the modifying room with longtime collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker.
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Scorsese is thought for his lengthy means of ending his motion pictures, and regardless of wrapping in September 2021, the $200 million film adaptation may additionally face a potential transfer to 2023.
Nonetheless anticipated this yr from Apple is Rodrigo Garcia’s Raymond & Ray, with Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke, and Peter Farrelly’s The Best Beer Run Ever, his first movie since Inexperienced E book gained finest image.
As well as, the corporate has a handful of documentaries within the pipeline, together with a still-untitled Sidney Poitier doc from Reginald Hudlin, Black & Blues: The Colourful Ballad of Louis Armstrong from Sacha Jenkins and The Sound of 007 from Mat Whitecross.
That does not rely any acquisitions which will out of Cannes, lower than two weeks away, and the Venice, Telluride and Toronto movie festivals on the horizon.
Emancipation is written by Invoice Collage and in addition stars Emmy contender Ben Foster (The Survivor), and tells the story of a runaway slave who tries to flee his plantation house owners. Additionally serving as producers are Todd Black, Joey McFarland and Jon Mone.
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