Why Apple Should Release Will Smith’s ‘Emancipation’ This Year (Column)
variety.comClayton Davis “Have no fear of perfection — you’ll never reach it.”A quote by Spanish artist Salvador Dalí feels appropriate when discussing the apprehension about releasing the Will Smith-starrer “Emancipation” this year.
With “Killers of the Flower Moon” staying the course for 2023, and Smith posting an apology video for slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Oscars, a path to bowing the Apple Original Film is becoming more clear.There’s never going to be a “perfect” time to release any Smith vehicle in the future — whether it’s in 2022 or a decade from now — nor will the public ever forget his actions of the evening.
Apple Original Films, Westbrook Studios and all the various filmmakers attached to the project should simply bite the bullet and go forth with the film’s release, and an awards campaign, if warranted.
Before Smith won best actor for playing Venus and Serena Williams’ father in the drama “King Richard” (2021), the early buzz for the Antoine Fuqua drama was very positive, suggesting it would be Apple’s big awards contender following “CODA’s” success.Fuqua, who directed the 2001 crime drama “Training Day,” which earned Denzel Washington an Oscar, is one of the most respected Black filmmakers of his generation.
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