Will Smith and Antoine Fuqua’s runaway slave thriller, Emancipation, lands at Apple. Emancipation is written by William N. Collage and tells the story of Peter, a runaway slave who escaped to the Union Army after going through Louisiana swamps for ten days. It is based on a true story. According to director Antoine Fuqua, he first read the script two years ago and has been working since then to get the project up and running. The script by Collage is said to be accurate, and used the real-life Peter's actual diaries, along with other historical documents.
According to Variety, Apple won the bid for the movie at the Cannes virtual market. Apple beat out MGM, Lionsgate, Warner Bros, and Universal, who also made offers on the movie. CAA Media Finance represents U.S. rights at the market, while Film Nation Entertainment represents international sales. Production on Emancipation is set to launch in early 2021. Smith will star and produce the movie through Westbrook Studios. n
The story about Peter has major historical significance. Photos that were taken of Peter, which showed the scars on his back from being whipped, were published in 1863. The photos became known as the "scourged back" photos, which illustrated the cruelty of slavery. The famous pictures served to further the anti-slavery sentiment by making slavery's brutality impossible to deny.
Fuqua has been well known for his action and thriller films, as well as his collaborations with Denzel Washington. Fuqua has directed popular movies such as Training Day, The Equalizer, and the remake of The Magnificent Seven, and Smith recently starred in Bad Boys for Life, Gemini Man, and Aladdin. Smith is also set to return to the Bright sequel, as well as The Council. Emancipation will likely start filming in 2021.
Source: Variety
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