Will Smith's feelings on timing of release of new movie Emancipation after Oscars incident

Virgin Radio

30 Nov 2022, 16:12

Will Smith has hit back at claims that the release of his new movie Emancipation is too premature, after the award winning actor's Oscars incident.

His newest venture sees Will play Peter who is an enslaved man who escapes from a Louisiana plantation and then joins the Union Army at the time of the Civil War.

This stamps the star's first major project since the unpleasant scenes at this year's Oscars Ceremony. Smith stormed the stage and confronted Chris Rock because of a joke involving Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

After the incident, bosses of the Oscars banned Smith for 10 years from all Oscar related events, and he himself resigned from the Academy.

During a conversation with Jake Hamilton on his Jake’s Takes YouTube Channel, he spoke about his feelings towards the incident, the film and more.

He pleads with the public not to judge everyone else involved in the movie who have worked hard to bring the film to life.

Will said: "It certainly has been a difficult last few months. And I would just hope that these spectacular artists who have come together on this project, I would hope that they would not be penalised for a few horrific moments of indiscretion on my part."

Questioned about the feelings of the people who may find it hard to watch the new film as it may still be fresh for them after the Oscars, he said to Jake:

"I feel like that’s the type of thing that you would say before you sit in the movie theatre.

"I think the work that [director Antoine Fuqua] has done, and all of the artists involved with this film, I would hope that the importance of the story and the importance of Peter rise above those feelings and emotions."

In the interview, Smith continued to discuss working on the movie, and what he learnt from the character he played.

"It was interesting that the playing of Peter led into this last few months of my life. There was a new idea that came through, the ability to have an open heart in hell, is the only way to be here," he said.

"That is the giant, spiritual lesson that I took away from Peter. It’s the lesson of all of our holy books. Can we have an open heart in hell? For me, when I look at Peter and when I see humans who have learned how to do that, that is the north star for me."

"That’s the sound of the cannons that I’m following. I will purify my heart and purify my mind and purify my actions, to the point that I can sit comfortably with my heart wide open in hell."

Emancipation is set to premiere in cinemas on December 2, before landing on the streaming service on December 9.