The Cannes virtual market may have all eyes set on EMANCIPATION, a film being directed by Antoine Fuqua (The Magnificent Seven, Infinite) and will star Will Smith (Suicide Squad, Bad Boys for Life).
According to Deadline, the runaway slave thriller EMANCIPATION will become one of the hottest film packages for the upcoming Cannes Virtual Market. The movie will tell the story of Peter, a runaway slave forced to outwit cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on a tortuous journey North to join the Union Army.
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The thriller is based on a true story, where incredible outrage was shown from the awful image they had seen of Peter – he showed his bare back during an Army medical examination, photos were taken of the scars from a whipping delivered by an overseer on the plantation owned by John and Bridget Lyons that nearly killed him. Due to the severe nature of the disgusting brutality he experienced, the photo became known as “the scourged back”. The image was published by the Independent in May, 1863 and then in Harper’s Weekly‘s July 4 issue, it became indisputable proof of the cruelty and barbarity of slavery in America. The disturbing image was seen around the world and it’s believed that it had such an effect on people, that countries like France refused to buy cotton from the South. It solidified the cause of abolitionists and prompted many free blacks to join the Union Army.
Peter’s story is what will carry the film, using his experience as a historical background platform, but it is also said to be a powerful and emotional action thriller that involves Peter’s death-defying journey to escape his captors. He went to great extremes to avoid being captured, including using onions to mask his scent from pursuing bloodhounds, and his incredible courage and determination saw him survive running barefoot through the swamps for 10 days. We are already feeling emotional thinking about it now…
The script has been penned by William N. Collage with James Lassiter and Jon Mone will serve in a producorial capacity through Westbrook Studios, with McFarland Entertainment’s Joey McFarland and Escape Artists’ Todd Black. Fuqua will executive produce under his Fuqua Films banner, alongside Cliff Roberts.
What do you think of the casting of the movie? Are you excited about this film? As always, we like to know what you think, so let us know your thoughts below, tweet us @filmandtvnow or leave a comment on our Facebook page.
[…] Related post: Antoine Fuqua & Will Smith to unite for slavery thriller Emancipation […]
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