Watch the latest teaser for the upcoming film Emancipation to see Will Smith return to the big screen.
In the new film, Smith plays a slave named Peter who embarks on a journey to freedom. In the two-minute trailer, Peter decides to flee after learning about the Emancipation Proclamation.
Peter sets off on a long and arduous journey across the marshes of Louisiana, driven by his shrewdness, unwavering faith, and love for his family while avoiding slave catchers and other perils.
The movie was based on the 1863 illustration of “Whipped Peter,” an enslaved man who joined the Union Army in order to be reunited with his family.
White Northerners’ resistance to slavery was bolstered by the image of the guy with a horribly damaged back from whippings that sought to highlight the horrors of slavery. The photograph also illustrated the importance of the media in times of war because it was taken right before the American Civil War.
Following the movie’s October 1 premiere in Washington, D.C., director Antoine Fuqua spoke with Deadline about how Smith raised the bar with his performance in the picture.
“In this movie, Will [Smith] is on an entirely different level. Incredible,” Fuqua said, and Smith acknowledged as much on his Instagram page. Literally, “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” Shoutout to Apple for doubling (and tripling) down on their dedication to spreading this epic tale throughout the globe.