Studios Are Involved In A Bidding War Over Will Smith's Runaway Slave Movie, Showing Studios Never Change

Last week, we learned that Will Smith and Antoine Fuqua are teaming up for a new film titled “Emancipation.” The film tells the story of “Whipped Peter,” a slave who escapes recapture and finds the Union Army, where they take a picture of his scarred back that is seen around the world.

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

Now, it seems studios are so into this novel idea about making movies about slaves that Deadline reports they’re willing to throw a record $130 million for the film. This would make “Emancipation” the biggest acquisition deal not only at the Virtual Cannes market, but possibly of any festival ever. For comparison, Disney bought the rights to Hamilton for $75 million. If only they could, you know, spend the money on a dozen indie movies by Black filmmakers instead.

According to Deadline, the bidding war for “Emancipation” is now down to two possible choices: Apple and Warner Bros., the last of which seemingly wanting to make good on their promise to make up for “Gone With The Wind” by making another movie about slaves, but this time we see all the graphic violence.

The Deadline report also says that “Emancipation” is at heart an action thriller, which is just what you want to hear as a description for a movie about this topic. Peter’s story involves a 10-day journey escaping bloodhounds, and the film is apparently taking a page out of such survival tales as Mel Gibson‘s “Apocalypto.”

“Emancipation” is looking to begin production in early 2021, with Smith, James Lassiter and Jon Mone producing through Westbrook Studios with Escape ArtistsTodd Black and McFarland Entertainment’s Joey McFarland, while Fuqua executive producers with Cliff Roberts through Fuqua Films.