After being shadowed by the impulsive infamous slap gate for eight months, Will Smith landed his first film, Emancipation. Based on the life of a slave who escapes the shackles of a Louisiana plantation to find freedom during the civil war. Famously known as “Whipping Peter,” this man became the frightening mirror of the horrors of enslavement. His mutilated back revealed the extensive violence done to slaves while this landmark piece of evidence starts a revolution.

The historical drama places all these significant instances in a bleak setting that traces back to the 1860s. Unfortunately, the movie has not received a positive response from critics, but Smith’s stoic and strong performance has been praised. People are even talking that he might once again be nominated for a second Oscar for his role. Amidst all the buzz, the 54-year-old star took fans on a wild ride, which revealed why Emancipation was his hardest film ever.

Will Smith took fans behind the scenes of Emancipation

Will Smith shared a new video on his social networks that gave fans an insight into the creation of Emancipation. The video showed different days of shooting around New Orleans in the state of Louisiana. The video opened with the Men In Black alum heading to the set and preparing for the scenes.

“So we’re all going to live and die making this movie. This is our last job,” remarked the Aladdin star. The actor said this because the shooting was constantly interrupted by lightning and they had to take 30-minute breaks every time it did. Moreover, there was heavy rain, which delayed their schedule and ruined the setups created by the team.

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Filming Emancipation was like Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse because of all the climatic and location problems they were facing. The actor showed viewers that how they tried their best to shoot scenes despite adverse conditions. The Academy Award-winning star was seen running the wilderness and laying in a swamp to create authentic visuals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd1Za2aUBxE

Indeed, this was a challenging task for the whole team, including Will Smith, who was the center of it all. Even the filming was halted for five weeks due to the hurricane that took over the place. However, they did not give up as the actor said it was a spiritual practice for him. He even mentioned that the universe is testing him right now, so he would deal with whatever is thrown in his way.

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What do you think? Does the actor really get all the credit for hardships he faced for this movie? Tell us your views in the comment section.