‘Emancipation’ Will Be Released in Early December

Not an official announcement, but Deadline let it slip that Antoine Fuqua's “Emancipation” will be released in early December (according to two sources).

While the press is already scrutinizing what Apple will do with the film and whether Smith’s controversy will hobble what might have been a prohibitive Oscar favorite, sources said Apple will release the film in early December. As for Smith, real movie stars are rare. While their fortunes can ebb and flow, the top ones have a way of coming back, especially when the movie is good and this is said to be a career high point for Fuqua. This side of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, none has been more successful over the past two decades on a global scale than Smith.

UPDATE: Jeff Sneider just tweeted the early December date as well. He could just be rehashing what the Deadline piece revealed, but Jeff is always reliable.

As I mentioned a few days ago, Will Smith will have to amp up that apology tour this fall. Maybe a one-hour special with Oprah, add in a televised therapy session with Dr. Phil and then an Oscar campaign can commence.

I saw Sunday’s New York Times report, on Apple’s indecision with “Emancipation,” as a peculiarly timed one. Notice how the NYT piece, which quoted anonymous sources, was published just days after Apple’s big Oscar horse, “The Greatest Beer Run Ever,” completely tanked with critics at TIFF. Apple was maybe testing the waters, and now an awards campaign is clearly brewing behind “Emanicipation.”

Apple are absolutely making the right decision, they SHOULD release the $120 million costing “Emancipation” — not only will it make it eligible for awards consideration, but it’ll also get rid of their biggest headache this year.