Back in action! Will Smith promotes new Apple TV+ movie
The Oscar-winner has shared the first look at his new movie, 'Emancipation' - six months after the slap that almost ended his career.
Will Smith will be back in action on the big screen in December. The 54-year-old has been keeping a low profile since his controversial moment at the 2022 Oscars in March.
The actor made headlines all over the world when he slapped comedian, Chris Rock, during the live ceremony. Will confronted Chris after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith's bald head.
Jada suffers from alopecia - a condition that causes hair loss. Will received widespread backlash after the incident - which overshadowed his Oscar win for his leading role in 'King Richard'.
Many called for the actor to be cancelled. He was ultimately banned from Oscar ceremonies for 10 years.
But things are finally looking up for the 'I Am Legend' actor. His new movie, 'Emancipation', will debut in cinemas on December 2. The Apple Original Films will then be released on Apple TV+ on December 9.
"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," Will wrote on Instagram.
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According to Deadline, the run-from-slavery thriller is already getting rave reviews with many saying 'Emancipation' is director Antoine Fuqua's best film to date.
But many are worried that slap-gate could dash the movie's hopes during award seasons.
Many of Will's projects were pushed back after slap-gate. Fuqua told Deadline that there were some discussions about when would be the best time to release the film.
"Really, I was always saying that, as a filmmaker, you want your work out there, especially something this important. It was Apple, behind the scenes, they were pushing that as well, trying to navigate through the waters. They never stopped talking about releasing the film, and when would be best strategically. Apple would call me often, with Will, and I have to say Apple has been amazing through this whole film. We moved from Georgia to Louisiana, and they never blinked. We weathered hurricanes, Covid, all those things," he said.
The success of the film could affect the rollout of his other projects. Only time will tell if Will has fully recovered from his controversial Oscars moment.
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Main image credit: Instagram/@willsmith, Apple TV+