Will Smith is joined by A-listers Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Dave Chappelle and Tyler Perry at a screening of his new film Emancipation… as he makes his comeback after Oscars slap
Will Smith was getting back into the swing of things on Monday when he revealed an impressive array of stars who attended an advance screening of his upcoming film Emancipation.
The 54-year-old Oscar winner beamed in a photo posted to Instagram featuring a loved-up Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, along with comedian Dave Chappelle, film star Tyler Perry and more.
Will seems to be trying to revive his career and reestablish himself as he returns with his first major project since he shocked Academy Awards viewers earlier this year when he slapped Chris Rock on stage.
Famous friends: Will Smith, 54, continued his acting comeback on Monday when he shared a star-studded photo of a screening of Emancipation featuring Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Dave Chappelle, Tyler Perry and more
Will sported a particularly thick beard and close-cropped hair as he showed a toothy smile while snapping a selfie.
He was dressed casually in a cream-colored striped shirt with a charcoal jacket.
Standing behind him was Rihanna, who flashed playfully bunny ears behind his head while wearing a white jacket. She wore her hair tamped down and swept over one eye, and she showed off her perfect pout while looking as if she was about to kiss her partner A$AP Rocky.
Rocky grinned ear to ear while wearing a white trucker cap.
Pals: Also joining in the celebration was Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, along with music producer Corey Smyth and Will’s longtime friend Fawn Boardley. They chatted about the film afterward
History: Smith’s latest film is a historical thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua, in which the Fresh Prince actor stars as an enslaved man named Peter who escapes from a Louisiana plantation
Dave Chappelle stood grinning in the center of the crowd in a brown shirt, while Tyler Perry showed off a playfully surprised expression while wearing a cool blue jacket.
Also joining in the celebration was Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, along with music producer Corey Smyth and Will’s longtime friend Fawn Boardley, who has also served as a style director for him and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 51, who didn’t appear to have attended the screening.
The movie appeared to have sparked some deep conversations among the group, as a follow-up photo should Chappelle standing with his back to the screen as he spoke to the other members of the audience.
Smith’s latest film is a historical thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua, in which the Fresh Prince actor stars as an enslaved man named Peter who escapes from a Louisiana plantation and braves treacherous territory and slave hunters to make it up north to Union territory, where he is able to join the fight against the Confederacy.
The film was inspired by the life of a former slave immortalized in horrifying photos of his back, which was covered in spiderwebbing keloid scars from repeated whippings.
Race for freedom: braves treacherous territory and slave hunters to make it up north to Union territory, where he is able to join the fight against the Confederacy
Painful: The film was inspired by the life of a former slave immortalized in horrifying photos of his back, which was covered in spiderwebbing keloid scars from repeated whippings
The film is Smith’s first major work since he took to the stage at the Academy Awards and slapped Chris Rock on the face while he was in the midst of presenting.
The Independence Day star said he was incensed by a joke Rock made about his wife’s lack of hair, which she shaved off to cover up hair loss she had experienced.
Despite sweeping the Oscars up in controversy, Smith still won the award for Best Actor for starring as the father of Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.
Following the shocking slap, Variety originally reported that Apple planned to delay the film until 2023 to let the controversy die down.
However, it is now set for a December 2 release in theaters, followed by a streaming release on Apple TV+ on December 9.
The streaming service may have still given up its plans of having a hit for awards season, as the film may lose out on potential profits due to the short theatrical window.
Back on track: The film was originally reported to be delayed to 2023 after Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, but it will now be out in time for award season with a December 2 theatrical release; seen in March
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