Variety: Will Smith Film “Emancipation” Likely Pushed to 2023

09 MAY 2022 - News around Apple TV+ that is disappointing on some level, but nowhere near surprising. Variety says the Antoine Fuqua-directed film Emancipation has almost definitely been pushed into 2023. 

The problem? Two words: Will Smith. Three more words: Slapping Chris Rock. According to Variety:

…the movie would have been the first release for Smith following his assault on comedian Chris Rock during the 94th Oscars. As a result, he was banned from attending the Oscars and other Academy-related events for 10 years.

While no official date had been set for the film, Variety says “it was expected to be the streamer’s next potential awards project this year after winning best picture for ‘CODA.’” There is talk that the film’s director is still deep in post-production and that the film might not have been ready for release this year anyway. That may be so. Then again, it may be cover for waffling around the release. While some inside Apple are said to still be trying to salvage a late 2022 release, one insider says “it’s the unspoken truth” that the film will not be out this year. 

Apple Original Films offered no comment for the Variety report.