Emancipation 2022

Movie · 132 min · English · December 2, 2022

Action drama Action thriller Historical action

Directed by Antoine FuquaWritten by William N. Collage

Starring Will Smith, Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Jayson Warner Smith, Austin Alexander

A 2022 American historical action thriller film, Emancipation was directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by William N. Collage, with Will Smith as one of the co-producers. The story follows a runaway slave played by Smith, who makes his way toward Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the 1860s after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to abolish slavery in Confederate states. During his journey through treacherous swamps, he is hunted by slave catchers and their dogs. Supporting roles include Ben Foster as a merciless bounty hunter and Charmaine Bingwa as an enslaved woman and mother.

The movie draws inspiration from the real-life account of a self-liberated slave, referred to as either Gordon or “Whipped Peter.” His story gained widespread attention after a photograph of his severely lashed back was published in 1863 as a magazine illustration, showing the brutal conditions of slavery and serving as powerful evidence for abolitionists. Producer Joey McFarland began investigating this narrative in 2018 and commissioned Collage to pen the screenplay.

The film’s official announcement came in June 2020, with Fuqua set to direct and Smith confirmed as lead actor. Principal photography took place in Louisiana from July until August 2021. Apple acquired the film rights, outcompeting multiple studios. It premiered in Washington, D.C., on October 1, 2022 before opening in select theaters on December 2, 2022. The movie became available for streaming on December 9 on Apple TV+. Critics gave it a mixed reception, commending Smith’s acting while criticizing the script and its portrayal of actual historical events.