Will Smith Opens Up About His Reluctance to Star in Films About Slavery

Subject matter is essential to Will Smith. The actor opened up about his reluctance to star in films about slavery in a new interview for GQ.

“I’ve always avoided making films about slavery,” Smith told journalist Wesley Lowery. “In the early part of my career … I didn’t want to show black people in that light.” 

He added, “I wanted to be a superhero. So I wanted to depict Black excellence alongside my white counterparts. I wanted to play roles that you would give to Tom Cruise.”

The 53-year-old revealed the first time he considered it was for Django Unchained. Smith was considered for the title role of the 2012 Quentin Tarantino film. Ultimately he decided he didn’t want to star in a movie about slavery and vengeance. The part famously went to Jamie Foxx.

Now, after a long career spanning multiple genres, Smith is filming Emancipation for Apple TV+. Smith plays Whipped Peter in the drama inspired by the image of the scarred back of a whipped slave of the same name. 

“This was one that was about love and the power of Black love. And that was something that I could rock with,” Smith said of the project. “We were going to make a story about how Black love makes us invincible.”

It’s not just a “slavery movie,” according to Smith, but a story of perseverance. It’s believed that Peter escaped slavery in 1863 and returned to free those he initially left behind.