Prior to infamously slapping comedian Chris Rock across the face at the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony, actor Will Smith was buzzing about his new film, “Emancipation.”
Smith, 54, is fresh off his first-ever Best Actor award from the Academy, overshadowed by the incident now known as the Oscars slap.
“Emancipation” is now streaming on Apple TV+ and it did not receive positive reviews from film critics, but would Smith even be able to win another trophy?
Smith returned to the big screen less than a year after he slapped Rock and although he was banned from attending the award ceremony, he can still receive a nomination.
Apple TV was the first streaming platform to win an Oscar for one of its film, and “Emancipation” was set to be the next contender.
Our village devoted everything they had to telling this story you see in #Emancipation. On friday we’ll get to share it with you. 12/9 on @appletvplus
– Will Smith pic.twitter.com/wF8FPEq4EK
— Will Smith (@WillSmith2real) December 6, 2022
Will Smith can still win an Oscar, but will he?
Academy award winners are chosen by a group of actors and directors who are members of the academy.
If “Emancipation” is included in the ballot, that will leave the door open for Smith to get nominated.
Smith won the Best Actor award right after the slap, so there’s no reason why he can’t win now.
Although the possibilities are there for Smith to be nominated and even win, the odds are slim.
Tom Hanks is the only actor in Academy history to win back-to-back Best Actor awards (Philadelphia in 1993 and Forrest Gump in 1994).