Upon the release of his new movie, Emancipation, Academy Award-winning actor Will Smith frees up the ability for his fans to watch the historical action film via Apple's streaming service.
Posting on his Instagram, Smith announced that he and Apple TV+ have collaborated to provide viewers with a two-month free trial, allowing them to watch Emancipation without cost. "I've been reading a lot of the comments and I see a lot of people saying they don't have AppleTV+. That's unacceptable to me. So I went to Apple and I was like, 'Yo! My people, you know we got the film. My people need to have AppleTV+'" he said, before announcing the special offer.
Fans can watch unlimited programming on the streaming service during the two-month trial. Viewers who want to capitalize on Smith's AppleTV+ offer can visit apple.co/willgift to redeem their free trial. The Emancipation promotion is the second such AppleTV+ promotion in as many months as Selena Gomez offered the same free subscription to her fans in November as she released her documentary, My Mind & Me. Without the offer, viewers can only get a one-week trial before paying $6.99 per month upon renewal.
Will Smith's New Movie
Emancipation marks Will Smith's first film since his much-talked-about slap of comedic legend Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards this past March. The slap was in response to a G.I. Jane 2 joke made by Rock towards Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, that she didn't take kindly to. Smith's angry reaction overshadowed the biggest accomplishment of his storied acting career as he won the Best Actor award later that night for his role as Richard Williams in the biographical sports drama film King Richard. He initially apologized in a statement the next day before releasing an extensive video apology on his YouTube channel in July, one Rock brushed off.
Emancipation tells the story of Peter, aka Whipped Peter, a formerly enslaved man whose scourges from whippings on his bare back were photographed and published, allowing the abolitionist movement to prove the cruelty of slavery in America. Based on a true story, Peter escaped from a Louisiana plantation, having to outsmart bloodthirsty hunters while traveling north to safety. Training Day and Tears of the Sun director Antoine Fuqua helmed Emancipation, which was filmed between July and August 2021.
Though Smith is banned from attending the Oscars, his movies can still be selected for nominations. However, seeing that Smith has been banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years and the film has already generated mixed reviews, it's highly unlikely the Aladdin star gets a nod for the movie. Emancipation was first screened in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 1 before being released in select cinemas on Dec. 2. It also features Ben Foster, Charmaine Bingwa, Mustafa Shakir and Timothy Hutton.
Emancipation premieres on Apple TV+ Dec. 9.
Source: Instagram