Will Smith’s Liberation is one intriguing task. In addition to the film, however, the conditions encompassing it have made it questionably hit titles since its delivery in theaters. This is the 54-year-old’s first project since the Oscar slap gate controversy in 2022, and he chose slavery in America as a particularly sensitive subject.
The movie itself has received praise from numerous prominent individuals, including Rihanna, and has been referred to as Smith’s intended Oscar bait. The King Richard actor also recently talked about how difficult the journey was and how far he had to go to get the result that is now in the public eye.
Will Smith talks about his time working on Emancipation
Will Smith recently appeared on Red Table Talk, a Facebook Watch talk show hosted by his wife, Jade Pinkett Smith. The actor from Aladdin talked to his kids about how difficult it is for him to emotionally invest in his characters because he is such a sensitive man. And what a physical and mental toll it takes on him.
“As the years have passed, I’ve gotten more and more locked into these characters for longer periods of time,” he stated. And it’s just the weight of this story, these experiences, and these actors’ quality. It was physically, emotionally, and spiritually taxing.
The star of The Pursuit of Happiness also talked about a disturbing scene he had to shoot for Emancipation while he was on the show. He apparently had to have a co-actor spank him in the face for one of the movie scenes.
He said, “One of the first days on set, there was a scene with one of the actors, and he leans down in my face and says, ‘You a cold one, ain’t you?'” then he improvised…”
However, as his children began to laugh, the Oscar winner changed his tone. He continued, “I was like, ‘Makeup!'” Nonsense, but it was like… I thought, “Whoa, every actor on this set was taking it really, really seriously.”
On set, it must have been a busy day.
Smith jokingly added, “I was like, ‘Makeup!'” No, but it was as if—I was like, “Whoa,” every actor on this set was taking it seriously.”
Smith portrays Peter, as an enslaved man who “risks his life to escape and return to his family” and “embarks on a perilous journey of love and endurance,” according to the synopsis of the film, which was directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Since he slapped Chris Rock across the face at the 2022 Oscars after the comedian made a joke onstage about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, “Emancipation” is Smith’s first movie.
In light of his behavior at the Oscars, the father of three discussed the possibility that moviegoers might reconsider seeing “Emancipation” last month.
In a social media interview, Smith stated to film critic Kevin McCarthy, “I completely understand that if someone is not ready, I would absolutely respect that and allow them their space to not be ready.”
He also said that he hoped the reaction to the slap would not affect the film’s chances of success or the opportunities to win awards for the others who worked on it.
According to Smith, “my deepest concern is my team” because “director Antoine Fuqua has done what I think is the greatest work of his entire career.”
“Emancipation,” based on a true story, is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
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