Connect with us
X
Categories:

Entertainment

Will Smith hopes ‘brutal’ depictions of slavery in Emancipation are ‘not in vain’, as he attends premiere in London

Published

on

Will Smith hopes ‘brutal’ depictions of slavery in Emancipation are ‘not in vain’, as he attends premiere in London
Share this post:

DOWNLOAD MP3 SONG

Will Smith said he hopes the ‘brutal’ depictions of slavery in his upcoming film Emancipation are ‘not in vain’, as he fronted the film’s European premiere in London overnight.

The 54-year-old Hollywood actor, who plays escaped slave Peter in the film, opened up on his lastest project and said it was one of the ‘most difficult’ ones he has taken on in his more than 30 years as an actor.

Emancipation tells the story behind an infamous image known as ‘whipped Peter’ which shows a slave’s scarred back after he escaped a Louisiana plantation in the 1860s.

The image was spread by the abolitionist movement during the American Civil War and was published worldwide.

Smith attended the European premiere of Emancipation at Vue West End in London on Friday and when asked about why he thinks this famous image has not been explored before this film in-depth, he said: ‘We kind of don’t want to see ourselves depicted in that way.’

He continued to PA News Agency: ‘So every time these stories come up, it’s a huge emotional and psychological (confrontation).

‘That image of “whipped Peter”, it’s brutal, my hope, though, is that it’s not brutal, in vain.’

He also said he hopes it opens the audience up to ‘compassion, empathy and a deeper level of understanding’.

Asked about why he thinks it’s a tale of freedom rather than slavery, Smith added: ‘What I connected to in this story is that Peter’s body was enslaved, but his mind was always emancipated. He was never a slave in his mind.’

The actor leads the cast in Emancipation

The actor leads the cast in Emancipation

The actor hopes the depiction will not be in vain

The actor hopes the depiction will not be in vain

He also said during the premiere that there are ‘powerful messages’ for audiences today.

Smith said: ‘It illuminates some of the psychological patterns that lead to the atrocities of the slave trade and I hope it also illuminates some of those similar patterns starting to rear their head in modern America.’

He added: ‘It was really difficult, getting called the N-word 100 times a day by really good actors.

‘It was difficult for everybody, going back to some of those painful ideas and painful moments in American history.’

RECOMMENDED  Will There Be Wednesday (Tv Series) Season 2, Release Date, Cast, Latest News

This is Smith’s first big-screen project since he stormed the stage of the Oscars and slapped Chris Rock after comments the comedian made about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

Smith later apologized to Rock and the Academy for the incident, but was personally banned from attending any Academy events or programmes for 10 years.

In a recent interview with Washington DC’s Fox affiliate, Fox 5, he was asked what he would say to those who thought it was ‘too soon’ for him to be making a comeback.

Smith replied: ‘The people on this team have done some of the best work their entire careers, and my deepest hope is that my actions don’t penalize my team.’

At the London premiere, Smith received praise from his fellow co-stars for helping with the difficult material and his wonderful personality.

The US Office star David Denman said Smith was ‘generous and kind’ during the film along with being ‘very collaborative’ as he played Union Army General William Dwight.

Zimbabwean-Australian actress Charmaine Bingwa, who stars as Smith’s wife, Dodienne, said Smith would ‘always lighten things up’ on set while she had to work with the kind of material that ‘weighs on you physically and mentally’.

X-Men: The Last Stand actor Ben Foster who plays the slave master Fassel in the film also said: ‘You can feel Will Smith on set before you hear him. It’s just, he’s got a deep resonance.

‘I’m a huge fan of his, have been for decades and he does the finest work.’

Emancipation will be released in UK cinemas in December.


Get More Stories Like This On: Facebook: @AllNaijaEntertainment, Twitter: @AllNaijaEntertainment
Chief Oyerigha Echo Toikumoh - The Earlier The Better
Music3 weeks ago

[Music] Chief Oyerigha Echo Toikumoh – The Earlier The Better

Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta stated they will not take Pep Guardiola's place at Manchester City
Sports3 weeks ago

Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta stated they will not take Pep Guardiola’s place at Manchester City

Alan Shearer reckons Liverpool star is ‘not going to get better’
Sports3 weeks ago

Alan Shearer reckons Liverpool star is ‘not going to get better’

NECO examiners threaten nationwide protest over unpaid entitlements
News3 weeks ago

NECO examiners threaten nationwide protest over unpaid entitlements

Jonathan congratulates Trump on historic election win
News3 weeks ago

Jonathan congratulates Trump on historic election win

Peter Obi can become president in 2027 — Yunusa Tanko
News3 weeks ago

Peter Obi can become president in 2027 — Yunusa Tanko

Dua Lipa forced to cancel show after ‘unforeseen safety issues’
Entertainment3 weeks ago

Dua Lipa forced to cancel show after ‘unforeseen safety issues’

Uzoamaka Onuoha wins Best Female Performance in a feature at AFRIFF 2024
Entertainment3 weeks ago

Uzoamaka Onuoha wins Best Female Performance in a feature at AFRIFF 2024

'Phoenix Fury' bags Best Film award at the 13th edition of AFRIFF
Entertainment3 weeks ago

‘Phoenix Fury’ bags Best Film award at the 13th edition of AFRIFF

Vivo begins teasing new Dimensity 9400 flagships internationally
Technology3 weeks ago

Vivo begins teasing new Dimensity 9400 flagships internationally

Google Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro may trade performance gains for longer battery life
Technology3 weeks ago

Google Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro may trade performance gains for longer battery life

Manchester United players warned ‘only one is safe’ under Ruben Amorim
Sports3 weeks ago

Manchester United players warned ‘only one is safe’ under Ruben Amorim

Austin DeAnda given impromptu makeover after he is forced to have haircut in the middle of fight
Sports3 weeks ago

Austin DeAnda given impromptu makeover after he is forced to have haircut in the middle of fight

IG orders punishment for errant cops
News3 weeks ago

IG orders punishment for errant cops

Be ready to recover stolen mandate — Ighodalo tells PDP
News3 weeks ago

Be ready to recover stolen mandate — Ighodalo tells PDP

No part of Ogun will be ceded under my watch — Dapo Abiodun
News3 weeks ago

No part of Ogun will be ceded under my watch — Dapo Abiodun

Ruger calls out auto tune and hype culture in music
Entertainment3 weeks ago

Ruger calls out auto tune and hype culture in music

I hate to play same role repeatedly — Actress Bimbo Akintola
Entertainment3 weeks ago

I hate to play same role repeatedly — Actress Bimbo Akintola

Fans split on Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy's Grammy nominations.
Entertainment3 weeks ago

Fans split on Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy’s Grammy nominations

Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim: Leaker reveals launch details for Samsung's rival iPhone 17 Air
Technology3 weeks ago

Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim: Leaker reveals launch details for Samsung’s rival iPhone 17 Air

Realme names first smartphone to get Android 15 beta worldwide
Technology3 weeks ago

Realme names first smartphone to get Android 15 beta worldwide

England interim manager tipped for surprise Premier League job
Sports3 weeks ago

England interim manager tipped for surprise Premier League job

Hakim Ziyech mocks Israeli supporters attacked in Amsterdam
Sports3 weeks ago

Hakim Ziyech mocks Israeli supporters attacked in Amsterdam

Court jails seven for internet fraud in Kaduna
News3 weeks ago

Court jails seven for internet fraud in Kaduna

Edo APC criticizes Obaseki’s last-minute appointments
News3 weeks ago

Edo APC criticizes Obaseki’s last-minute appointments

Edo PDP announces caretaker committee
News3 weeks ago

Edo PDP announces caretaker committee

Tems makes history after securing 3 nominations for the 67th Grammys
Entertainment3 weeks ago

Tems makes history after securing 3 nominations for the 67th Grammys

Beyoncé surpasses Jay-Z to become the most nominated artist in Grammy history
Entertainment3 weeks ago

Beyoncé surpasses Jay-Z to become the most nominated artist in Grammy history

Davido, Wizkid, Tems, Asake make 2025 Grammy nominations
Entertainment3 weeks ago

Davido, Wizkid, Tems, Asake make 2025 Grammy nominations

Davido, Wizkid, Tems, Asake make 2025 Grammy nominations
Entertainment3 weeks ago

2025 GRAMMY: Academy unveils category changes ahead of nomination event

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Final Episode 13)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 12)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 11)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 10)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 09)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 08)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 07)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 06)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 05)

The Pastor Daughter Story by Miriam Edem _ ANE Story
ANE Stories3 weeks ago

[STORY] THE PASTOR’S DAUGHTER (Episode 04)

ANE Billboard Hots



Join "ANE sabi" clique

Don't miss a thing, get ogbonge ANE latest updates to fuel your conversation daily.