Actor Will Smith said he understands why people might not want to see his next film.
Smith won the Oscar for best actor earlier this year for his role in “King Richard,” but that night he drew more attention for slapping comedian Chris Rock, who made an onstage joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
As a result, it was banned from the Oscars for the next decade, although it could be nominated and even win an award.
“Emancipation,” Smith’s first post-film release, hits theaters Dec. 2 before streaming on Apple TV a week later.
The film is based on the life of a slave named Gordon, whose scarred back was photographed in 1863 and used by abolitionists to show the public how brutal slavery was.
“Emancipation” is making waves at the Oscars, but Smith said he understands if moviegoers aren’t thinking about seeing the film given its behavior at the most recent ceremony.
“I totally understand that if somebody’s not ready, I would absolutely respect them and let their space be unprepared,” Smith told film critic Kevin McCarthy. in a clip of the interview posted on social networks.
Smith said he hopes the backlash doesn’t affect the film’s chances of success or awards opportunities for the other people who worked on the film.
“The deepest concern is my team – [director Antoine Fuqua] he did what I think is the greatest work of his entire career,” Smith said.
“I hope the material, the power of the film, the timeliness of the story — I hope the good that can be done — will at least open people’s hearts to see, recognize and support the incredible artists in and around this film,” he said. said. declared. She said.
You can watch the full clip below.
