Less than a year after Will Smith shocked millions around the world by slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, his new film "Emancipation" will be released this December, Apple said Monday.

The slavery drama was broadly assumed to have been delayed in the wake of Smith's assault on comedian Rock, which drew widespread condemnation and resulted in Smith being banned from attending the Academy Awards ceremony for 10 years.

But Apple made the surprise announcement that the tainted star's latest movie will hit theatres on December 2, and begin streaming on Apple TV+ a week later.

The timing means Apple will be able to submit "Emancipation" to compete at the Oscars next March, just a year after it made history as the first streamer to win the Oscar for best picture with 'CODA'.

Smith has kept a relatively low profile since that night at the Academy Awards when he won the best actor for his performance in 'King Richard'&nbsp;just minutes after he had marched on stage and hit Rock for making a joke about his wife.

The former 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'&nbsp;star made a public apology shortly after the incident, and released an emotional social media video about the moment in July, offering to meet with Rock "whenever you're ready to talk."

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hGoNxmTDsJs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The 54-year-old also resigned his membership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences -- although the organization did not revoke his best actor award, and his decade-long ban from attending the ceremony does not prevent him from being nominated for Oscars.

Smith this weekend attended an advance screening of 'Emancipation'&nbsp;hosted with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the US capital Washington.

The movie stars Smith as a fugitive from slavery on a harrowing journey north from Louisiana seeking freedom.

His character Peter is inspired by the infamous photograph of a slave whose back was mutilated by lashes received on a plantation, and who was dubbed "Whipped Peter."&nbsp;

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The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose 2001 police drama 'Training Day'&nbsp;earned a best actor Oscar for Denzel Washington.&nbsp;

'Emancipation' was originally due to be filmed in Georgia, but production was moved last year after the southern US state approved a voting rights law that critics say is intended to depress turnout in Black and other underrepresented communities.

Less than a year after Will Smith shocked millions around the world by slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, his new film "Emancipation" will be released this December, Apple said Monday.

Less than a year after Will Smith shocked millions around the world by slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, his new film "Emancipation" will be released this December, Apple said Monday. The slavery drama was broadly assumed to have been delayed in the wake of Smith's assault on comedian Rock, which drew widespread condemnation and resulted in Smith being banned from attending the Academy Awards ceremony for 10 years. But Apple made the surprise announcement that the tainted star's latest movie will hit theatres on December 2, and begin streaming on Apple TV+ a week later. The timing means Apple will be able to submit "Emancipation" to compete at the Oscars next March, just a year after it made history as the first streamer to win the Oscar for best picture with 'CODA'. Smith has kept a relatively low profile since that night at the Academy Awards when he won the best actor for his performance in 'King Richard' just minutes after he had marched on stage and hit Rock for making a joke about his wife. The former 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' star made a public apology shortly after the incident, and released an emotional social media video about the moment in July, offering to meet with Rock "whenever you're ready to talk." The 54-year-old also resigned his membership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences -- although the organization did not revoke his best actor award, and his decade-long ban from attending the ceremony does not prevent him from being nominated for Oscars. Smith this weekend attended an advance screening of 'Emancipation' hosted with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the US capital Washington. The movie stars Smith as a fugitive from slavery on a harrowing journey north from Louisiana seeking freedom. His character Peter is inspired by the infamous photograph of a slave whose back was mutilated by lashes received on a plantation, and who was dubbed "Whipped Peter." Also read: Kim Kardashian settles SEC crypto charge, to pay $1.26 million The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, whose 2001 police drama 'Training Day' earned a best actor Oscar for Denzel Washington. 'Emancipation' was originally due to be filmed in Georgia, but production was moved last year after the southern US state approved a voting rights law that critics say is intended to depress turnout in Black and other underrepresented communities.

Will Smith's 'Emancipation' to release this year despite Oscars slap, watch trailer here

Will Smith has constantly&nbsp;been under fire for getting violent at the prestigious Oscars awards this year. The incident left the internet divided and it remained the talk of the town for months. Now, the latest is that Will Smith's ex-wife Sheree Zampino has come forward to support the actor and is seeking forgiveness on his behalf.

Nearly five months after the Oscars slapgate, Zampino has spoken to a publication to clear her stance on the matter. Speaking to The Daily Mail, she said, "I hope people allow [Will] to be human," while adding, "I really hope for that because I stand in support of him, we are on good terms."

"You cannot heal without forgiveness," she concluded.

At the 94th Academy Awards, Smith didn't like a joke Chris Rock made about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and he walked up to him and slapped him across his face. The incident got captured on the lens. Later, Smith issued a public apology and asked for forgiveness.

Smith tied the knot with Zampino in 1992 and they parted ways in 1995. They share a son named Trey Smith, who is now 29 years old.&nbsp;

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Smith has been banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years.&nbsp;In a statement, the Academy said that the 94th Oscars had been "overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour" of the 'The Pursuit of Happyness' actor. And,&nbsp;they also apologised for not "adequately addressing the situation in the room" right after the incident.

Will Smith has constantly been under fire for getting violent at the prestigious Oscars awards this year. The incident left the internet divided and it remained the talk of the town for months.

Will Smith has constantly been under fire for getting violent at the prestigious Oscars awards this year. The incident left the internet divided and it remained the talk of the town for months. Now, the latest is that Will Smith's ex-wife Sheree Zampino has come forward to support the actor and is seeking forgiveness on his behalf. Nearly five months after the Oscars slapgate, Zampino has spoken to a publication to clear her stance on the matter. Speaking to The Daily Mail, she said, "I hope people allow [Will] to be human," while adding, "I really hope for that because I stand in support of him, we are on good terms." "You cannot heal without forgiveness," she concluded. At the 94th Academy Awards, Smith didn't like a joke Chris Rock made about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and he walked up to him and slapped him across his face. The incident got captured on the lens. Later, Smith issued a public apology and asked for forgiveness. Smith tied the knot with Zampino in 1992 and they parted ways in 1995. They share a son named Trey Smith, who is now 29 years old. Also read: Did you know it was Kevin Feige who shared deep secret about Captain America's virginity Smith has been banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years. In a statement, the Academy said that the 94th Oscars had been "overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour" of the 'The Pursuit of Happyness' actor. And, they also apologised for not "adequately addressing the situation in the room" right after the incident.

Will Smith's ex-wife Sheree hopes fans forgive the actor for Oscars slapgate

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Will Smith's 'Emancipation' to release this year despite Oscars slap, watch trailer here

Will Smith's ex-wife Sheree hopes fans forgive the actor for Oscars slapgate