'Emancipation': Apple Makes Massive Deal To Produce/Distribute The Antoine Fuqua/Will Smith Film [UPDATED]

UPDATE: An earlier version of the story said the deal between Apple and the filmmakers is a distribution-only agreement with another price tag. That was incorrect and has been updated below.

Apparently, the idea of filmmaker Antoine Fuqua teaming up with star Will Smith is too good to pass up for Apple. And the fledgling studio is willing to pay good money to make sure it is the distributor and production company behind the upcoming film, “Emancipation.”

READ MORE: ‘Emancipation’: Will Smith Teaming With Antoine Fuqua For Runaway Slave Film

According to Deadline, Apple Studios has struck a deal with the makers of “Emancipation” to become producing partners and distributors of the film. The film is expected to debut first in theaters before eventually arriving on the studio’s Apple TV+ streaming service. Though Apple won’t confirm the details of the arrangement, it’s being reported that the deal to produce and distribute is worth roughly $105 million. That’s a huge commitment from the tech company and shows its desire to become a major player in the film industry.

READ MORE: ‘Greyhound’: Apple TV+ Reportedly Pays $70 Million To Bring Tom Hanks’ New Film Straight To Streaming

“Emancipation” is said to be based on the true story of Peter, a slave that escaped in 1863 and made his way to the Union Army. While there, a picture was taken of his back, showing the horrific scars from being beaten. That picture would eventually be shown in newspapers all around the world, proving once and for all the terrible ways in which slaves were being tortured during that era.

READ MORE: Apple Teams With Paramount To Finance & Distribute Martin Scorsese’s Expensive ‘Flower Moon’

Obviously, Apple wasn’t the only company interested in distributing this film. The report claims that the bidding war was down to the tech company and Warner Bros. But clearly, Apple needs all the help it can get to make sure its film library is bolstered by high-profile projects. This is why we’ve seen the company step up and write insanely high checks for the rights to films such as Tom Hanks’ upcoming war film “Greyhound,” as well as “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the latest feature from Martin Scorsese.

It’s unclear when Apple is hoping to release “Emancipation,” but the film is said to begin production in early 2021.