Will Smith's Apple TV+ Movie Stops Production

 

CREDIT: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

Will Smith's Emancipation production has hit the pause button as a positive COVID-19 test came into play.

Some of the crewmembers have to quarantine in Louisiana.

The filming for Emancipation began a few weeks ago and Apple TV+ hopes this snag won't cause too much disruption in the timing of the filming.

The film is being directed by Antoine Fuqua and due to a big star like Will Smith joining, there has been quite a bit of buzz around the movie.

Theatre attendance and filming of projects have been affected previously and there is belief it will keep happening due to COVID-19, more specifically, the Delta variant.

Clifford The Big Red Dog has been pulled from the release schedule of Paramount and is yet to receive another release date.

CREDIT: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images

In other news, Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith also won't be filming their project in Georgia anymore.

A statement released by the two said, "At this moment in time, the nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice. We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access. The new Georgia voting laws are reminiscent of voting impediments that were passed at the end of Reconstruction to prevent many Americans from voting. Regrettably, we feel compelled to move our film production work from Georgia to another state."

Emancipation will show Will Smith as Peter, a runaway slave who fled his life in Louisiana after being whipped so badly he almost died. Peter then joins the Union Army in order to provide a path for other slaves. The film is based on a true story and a photograph from The Independent in May of 1963 called "The Scourged Back." The image also made its way to Harper's Weekly.

CREDIT: Kevin Winter/Getty Images