Apple to release Will Smith's new film ‘Emancipation’ in December

Apple TV Plus sets december theatrical release date for Will Smith’s ‘Emancipation.’

Will Smith Returns to Film After Oscars Slap With Intense ‘Emancipation’ Trailer

The first trailer for Will Smith’s new Antoine Fuqua’s film 'Emancipation' has arrived.

On Monday (October 3), Apple TV released the first trailer for Emancipation, the new slavery drama coming to theaters (and Apple TV+) in early December.

Will Smith’s as Peter, a slave who escapes from a Louisiana plantation to join the Union Army’s fight against the Confederate States Army in the Civil War. The story is based on the true story of Gordon, also known as “Whipped Peter,” who had photographs of his heavily scarred back published worldwide in 1863. The cast also features Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, and Steven Ogg.

The movie stars Smith in his first role since being banned from attending the Oscars after slapping Chris Rock onstage earlier this year. Emancipation was delayed to 2023 earlier this year. Alongside the arrival of the first trailer, Apple confirmed that the Antoine Fuqua-directed film will debut in theaters on Dec. 2 and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on Dec. 9.

In a post shared on Instagram, Smith described Emancipation as the “hardest movie I’ve ever made.” He added, “Blood, sweat & tears… LITERALLY! Shoutout to Apple who doubled (and tripled) down on their commitment to deliver this epic story to the world.”

The intense, dark trailer for the Antoine Fuqua-directed film opens with Smith’s voice as Peter saying: “I heard it myself. Slaves are free,” as he explains to a friend that Abraham Lincoln had announced the abolition of slavery.

“We must get to Lincoln’s army. Five days through the swamp,” says Smith. “There are many ways to die here.”

The mostly back-and-white trailer follows Peter, and a group of slaves, attempting to escape in order to find freedom away from the Confederate South. “I will look in triumph at my enemies,” Smith’s character says.

Check out the traile above.