Will Smith To Play A Slave In Period Drama Emancipation Based On A True Story
Will Smith is all set to play the lead role in a period film titled, Emancipation based on a true story. The film is written by William N Collage and will be directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Will
Smith
is
all
set
to
play
the
lead
role
in
a
period
film
titled,
Emancipation
based
on
a
true
story.
As
reported
by
Deadline,
the
film
is
written
by
William
N
Collage
and
will
be
directed
by
Antoine
Fuqua.
The
film
follows
the
true
story
of
Peter,
a
slave
on
a
Louisiana
plantation,
owned
by
John
and
Bridget
Lyons.
The
report
also
stated
that
during
Peter's
time
at
the
plantation,
he
received
a
brutal
whipping
that
almost
killed
him.
Peter
then
managed
to
run
away
to
the
north
and
joined
the
Union
Army,
where
doctors
took
a
picture
of
his
scarred
back,
which
till
date
has
been
used
as
a
proof
of
the
cruelty
of
slavery
in
America.
The
Scourged
Back
The
photo
is
known
as
"the
scourged
back"
was
published
by
The
Independent
in
May
1863,
followed
by
Harper
Weekly
in
its
July
4
issue.
Reportedly,
the
photo
also
prompted
many
free
black
men
to
join
the
Union
Army
to
fight
racists
in
the
south.
Director
Antoine
Fuqua
On
Casting
Will
Smith
The
director
Antoine
Fuqua
said,
Smith
was
the
perfect
choice
to
play
the
lead
role
as
he
enjoys
going
deep
into
the
subject.
Deadline
quoted
Antoine
saying,
"I
haven't
seen
this
film,
this
character,
before.
Will
Smith
is
perfect
for
it.
He
has
all
the
qualities
to
do
it.
He's
at
a
place
in
his
life
where,
we
know
Will's
charming
and
a
talented
actor,
and
that
he's
physical,
and
we've
seen
him
go
really
deep
in
other
films.
When
I
sat
down
with
Will,
we
both
talked
about
taking
our
skill
sets
to
another
level
for
this
one,
and
giving
ourselves
completely
to
it
in
an
honest
and
fair,
true
way."
Will
Smith
Will
ALso
Produce
Emacipation
According
to
reports,
Smith
will
also
be
producing
the
project
alongside
Westbrook
Studios,
McFarland
Entertainment
and
Todd
Black
of
Escape
Artists.