'Emancipation' Movie Filming Locations, Explored

Will Smith's first post-Oscars movie — a runaway-slave drama called 'Emancipation' — drops on Dec. 9, 2022. Let's communicate filming locations.

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Inspired through the haunting 1863 pictures of “Whipped Peter," which were snapped during a Union Army medical exam, Antoine Fuqua's Emancipation tells the story of Will Smith's Peter, "a person who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering religion and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom," as detailed by way of the official Apple TV Plus synopsis.

While the historic drama is about in Louisiana, used to be it filmed there?

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Where was Apple TV Plus's 'Emancipation' filmed?

According to Deadline, Emancipation was initially going to film in Georgia (a state famous for its attractive Film Tax Incentive), but ultimately, the cast and crew chose Louisiana instead. Why? Aside from Louisiana being a historically accurate location, it was Georgia’s GOP-backed election law signed by conservative Governor Brian Kemp in March 2021 that deterred them from filming there.

As detailed by CNBC, civil rights advocates claimed that the bill "disproportionately hurts citizens of color." More specifically, "the regulation adds new id requirements to absentee balloting, limits poll drop boxes, and prohibits offering food or water to citizens in line, amongst other provisions."

President Joe Biden even deemed restrictive laws such as this as “un-American.”

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WWL-TV reported that the film — which boasts a budget of about $100 million — started shooting in New Orleans, "close to Savannah," in June 2021.

Not only did city spokesman Beau Tidwell relay that New Orleans is a "welcoming" city (which is clearly a jab at Georgia), but he pointed out that Emancipation "presents vital investments — significant jobs — for New Orleans."

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Will Smith "completely understands" if people are wary of his post-Oscars films.

From The Pursuit of Happyness to King Richard, it's beyond clear that Will Smith is a master at his craft. He's also a master slapper, as proven by the infamous 2022 Academy Awards incident. On that fateful night, Will Smith ran on stage to slap Oscars host Chris Rock (Grown Ups) in the face after Rock made a joke — in poor taste, might we add — about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. You know, in case you hadn't heard about it.

Will Smith knows that the public found the incident to be "stunning," and he "utterly understands" if people aren't ready to watch him in a new film.

“I would absolutely respect that and allow them their space to not be ready," he told Fox 5.

“My inner most fear is my staff. Antoine has completed what I believe is the greatest work in his entire career … the folk in this group have executed one of the very best paintings in their entire careers, and my private hope is that my movements don’t penalize my group," he continued.

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Perhaps it is a case the place we can separate the artwork from the artist.

Whether or no longer you are ready for it, Emancipation premieres on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, on Apple TV Plus.

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