Free State of Jones ( film ) - wikipedia Free State of Jones ( film ) Free State of Jones Theatrical release poster Directed by Gary Ross Produced by Jon Kilik Gary Ross Scott Stuber Screenplay by Gary Ross Story by Leonard Hartman Gary Ross Starring Matthew McConaughey Gugu Mbatha - Raw Mahershala Ali Keri Russell Music by Nicholas Britell Cinematography Benoît Delhomme Edited by Pamela Martin Juliette Welfling Production companies Bluegrass Films Larger Than Life Productions Route One Films Vendian Entertainment Distributed by STXfilms Release date June 16, 2016 ( 2016 - 06 - 16 ) ( Atlanta ) June 24, 2016 ( 2016 - 06 - 24 ) ( United States ) Running time 140 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $50 million Box office $25 million Free State of Jones is a 2016 American historical period war film inspired by the life of Newton Knight and his armed revolt against the Confederacy in Jones County, Mississippi, throughout the American Civil War. Written and directed by Gary Ross, the film stars Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha - Raw, Mahershala Ali, and Keri Russell. It was released in the United States by STXfilms on June 24, 2016. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed only $25 million against its $50 million production budget. Contents 1 Premise 2 Plot 3 Cast 4 Production 4.1 Development 4.2 Filming 5 Release 6 Reception 6.1 Box office 6.2 Critical response 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links Premise The story is based on the history of Jones County, Mississippi during the Civil War and the immediately following period. Although the plot of the movie is fiction, the overall story follows the history of Jones County, and many of the events portrayed are true. The film is credited as `` based on the books The Free State of Jones by Victoria E. Bynum and The State of Jones by Sally Jenkins and John Stauffer ''. Plot After surviving the 1862 Battle of Corinth and being told of the Twenty Negro Law, Newton Knight, a poor farmer from Jones County serving as a battlefield medic in the Confederate Army, deserts and returns home to his farm and his wife, Serena, after seeing his nephew Daniel get shot and killed. While there, he befriends Rachel, an enslaved woman who has secretly learned to read. Newton 's disenchantment with the Confederacy grows after finding out that troops were taking crops and livestock for taxes. After helping one family resist such a raid, he is pursued by Confederate agents and bitten by an attack dog. With the help of abolitionist - oriented Aunt Sally and multiple slaves, he escapes to a swamp where some runaway slaves led by Moses Washington tend to his wounds. After the Siege of Vicksburg, many Confederates abandon their post, and many of them end up at the swamp, where Newton becomes their captain. The ex-Confederates and runaway slaves form a revolt against the Confederacy. They raid Confederate convoys and capture a piece of south - east Mississippi, organizing it as the `` Free State of Jones ''. Despite getting little help from the Union, they manage to hold out until the end of the war. Newton continues to fight racial inequality after the war. He helps free Moses ' son from an `` apprenticeship '' to Rachel 's former master. After Moses is lynched while registering freedmen to vote, Newton participates in a march of voters to the polls while everyone sings John Brown 's Body. Newton and Rachel have a son, Jason. Since they are unable to legally marry, Newton arranges to deed a parcel of land to her. The story is interspersed with the story of Newton 's great - grandson, Davis Knight, who is arrested under Mississippi 's miscegenation laws in 1948. Since he is possibly of one - eighth black descent, under Mississippi law at that time he is considered black, and therefore could not legally marry his long - time sweetheart. He is sentenced to five years in prison, but his conviction is thrown out by the Mississippi Supreme Court in 1949, rather than risk the law being declared unconstitutional. Cast Actor Matthew McConaughey at 2015 Cannes Film Festival ( L ), who portrayed anti-Confederate, rebellion leader, Newton Knight ( R ). Matthew McConaughey as Newton Knight Gugu Mbatha - Raw as Rachel Knight Keri Russell as Serena Knight Mahershala Ali as Moses Washington Brian Lee Franklin as Davis Knight Jacob Lofland as Daniel Bill Tangradi as Lieutenant Barbour Sean Bridgers as Will Sumrall Kirk Bovill as Merchant Christopher Berry as Jasper Collins Donald Watkins as Wilson Artrial Clark as Eli Manny Penton as Surgeon Wayne Pére as Colonel Robert Lowry Production Development The film was a passion project for Ross who spent ten years developing it. Ross was initially drawn to make the movie out of a desire to examine the Reconstruction era south, an era that, according to him, is poorly represented in film, with him giving Gone with the Wind and The Birth of a Nation as examples of `` the last movies that did it ''. In preparation Ross did a `` tremendous amount of research '', studying not only the Civil War but also the historiography of the war, the latter because he wanted `` to debunk a lot of the myths '' surrounding the events. Speaking to Slash Film about the research for the film Ross remarked that `` I do n't think I did anything but read for a couple of years '' Ross finished writing the film prior to working on Hunger Games, although he struggled to find much in way of financing : he felt that doing Games would help him, and thusly declined to work on the sequels. Afterwards he still had trouble getting the movie made which he chalks up to the fact that `` we 're in a different kind of a popcorn universe now '' Matthew McConaughey 's casting was announced in November 2014 with other casting announcements made in early 2015. Angelo Piazza III, Marksville, La. and Jack 's Powder Keg Company participated in the production with their cannon and black powder. Filming Principal photography began on February 23, and was scheduled to end on May 28. On March 9, Adam Fogelson, Chairman of STX Entertainment announced the start of the production in and around New Orleans, with the release of a first look photo. In May 2015, shooting was scheduled for Clinton, with East Feliciana Parish as a filming set. On May 25, 2015, some filming took place at Chicot State Park around Ville Platte, Louisiana. Release The film was pushed back from its original release date of March 11, 2016, to May 13 and finally June 24, 2016. The first trailer was released on January 9, 2016. Reception Box Office Free State of Jones grossed $20.8 million in North America and $4.2 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $25 million, against a production budget of $50 million. The film was released in the United States and Canada on June 24, 2016, alongside Independence Day : Resurgence and The Shallows and was projected to gross around $10 million in its opening weekend from 2,815 theaters. The film grossed $365,000 from its Thursday previews and $2.7 million on its first day. In its opening weekend the film grossed $7.6 million, finishing 6th at the box office behind Finding Dory ( $73 million ), Independence Day : Resurgence ( $41 million ), Central Intelligence ( $18.2 million ), The Shallows ( $16.8 million ) and The Conjuring 2 ( $7.7 million ). Critical response This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( July 2016 ) On Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, the film has an approval rating of 46 % based on 180 reviews and an average rating of 5.4 / 10. The website 's critical consensus reads, `` Free State of Jones has the noblest of intentions, but they are n't enough to make up for its stilted treatment of a fascinating real - life story. '' On Metacritic, the film has a score of 53 out of 100 based on reviews from 38 critics, indicating `` mixed or average reviews ''. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of `` A − '' on an A+ to F scale. The New York Times selected it as a `` critic 's pick '', and reviewer A.O. Scott called it `` a neglected and fascinating chapter in American history '' and said it used `` the tools of Hollywood spectacle to restore a measure of clarity to our understanding of the war and its aftermath. '' See also Slave states and free states Tap Roots, a 1948 film loosely based on the life story of Newton Knight Voting rights in the United States White savior narrative in film 2010s portal Film in the United States portal References Jump up ^ `` Free State of Jones ( 15 ) ''. British Board of Film Classification. August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Brent Lang ( June 22, 2016 ). `` Box Office : ' Independence Day : Resurgence ' No Match for ' Finding Dory ' ''. Variety. Retrieved June 22, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Free State of Jones ( 2016 ) ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 10, 2016. Jump up ^ Richard Grant, The True Story of the ' Free State of Jones ', Smithsonian Magazine, March 2016 ^ Jump up to : State of Jones ( 2016 ), History vs Hollywood ( retrieved 26 August 2016 ) ^ Jump up to : Fleming Jr, Mike ; Busch, Anita ( November 5, 2014 ). `` Matthew McConaughey & Gary Ross Mount Civil War Saga ; Bob Simonds ' STX In Talks To Finance ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 6, 2015. Jump up ^ Mick LaSalle, `` Movies to look for ( maybe ) in 2016 ''. San Francisco Chronicle, December 30, 2015. Jump up ^ Pamela McClintock, `` Matthew McConaughey 's ' Free State of Jones ' Gets New Release Date '', The Hollywood Reporter, October 22, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Sneider, Jeff ( January 6, 2015 ). `` Gugu Mbatha - Raw to Star Opposite Matthew McConaughey in Gary Ross ' ' Free State of Jones ' ( Exclusive ) ''. thewrap.com. Retrieved March 6, 2015. ^ Jump up to : Sneider, Jeff ( February 12, 2015 ). `` Keri Russell, Mahershala Ali Join Matthew McConaughey in ' Free State of Jones ' ( Exclusive ) ''. thewrap.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Donald Watkins ''. IMDb. Retrieved 2016 - 08 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Artrial Clark ''. IMDb. Retrieved 2016 - 08 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Wayne Pére ''. IMDb. Retrieved 2017 - 04 - 24. ^ Jump up to : Giroux, Jack. `` Interview : Why Gary Ross Spent a Decade Working on ' Free State of Jones ' ''. Slash Film. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2017. Jump up ^ Giroux, Jack. `` Interview : Why Gary Ross Spent a Decade Working on ' Free State of Jones ' ''. Slash Film. p. 2. Retrieved 4 September 2017. Jump up ^ Giroux, Jack. `` Interview : Why Gary Ross Spent a Decade Working on ' Free State of Jones ' ''. Slashfilm. p. 3. Retrieved 6 September 2017. Jump up ^ Daye, Raymond L. ( May 30, 2016 ). `` LOCAL CIVIL WAR RE-ENACTORS INVOLVED IN SUMMER FILM PROJECTS ''. Bunkie Today. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Mathew McConaughey begins filming ' The Free State of Jones ' in Louisiana ''. onlocationvacations.com. February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015. Jump up ^ Evry, Max ( March 9, 2015 ). `` First Look at Matthew McConaughey in The Free State of Jones ''. comingsoon.net. Retrieved March 10, 2015. Jump up ^ Warren, Stephanie ( March 4, 2015 ). `` Major motion picture to be filmed in Clinton ''. theadvocate.com. Retrieved March 7, 2015. Jump up ^ Lang, Brent ( February 25, 2015 ). `` STX Entertainment Dates Films With Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts, Jason Blum ''. Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2015. Jump up ^ McClintock, Pamela ( March 9, 2015 ). `` Matthew McConaughey 's ' Free State of Jones ' Goes Up Against ' Independence Day : Resurgence ' ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 9, 2015. Jump up ^ Ryan Parker, `` Matthew McConaughey Starrer ' Free State of Jones ' Trailer Released '', The Hollywood Reporter, January 9, 2016 In front of The Revenant. Jump up ^ Anthony D'Alessandro ( June 26, 2016 ). `` ' Dory ' Swallows ' Resurgence ' ; ' Shallows ' Rides $16 M Wave ; ' Free State Of Jones ' & ' Neon Demon ' Wounded ''. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 26, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Weekend Box Office Results for June 24 -- 26, 2016 ''. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 28 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Free State of Jones ( 2016 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 6, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Free State of Jones Reviews ''. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 6, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Search for ' Free State of Jones ' ''. CinemaScore. Jump up ^ Brad Brevet ( June 23, 2016 ). `` ' Independence Day ', ' Shallows ' & ' Free State of Jones ' Must Contend with ' Finding Dory ' ''. Box Office Mojo. Jump up ^ A.O. Scott, `` Review : Matthew McConaughey Rebels Against Rebels in ' Free State of Jones ' '', NYT Critics ' Pick, The New York Times June 23, 2016, page C1 ( Accessed 26 August 2016 ) Further reading Bynum, Vikki E. The Free State of Jones : Mississippi 's Longest Civil War. Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, 2016. ISBN 9781469627052. Downing, David C. A South Divided : Portraits of Dissent in the Confederacy. Nashville : Cumberland House, 2007. ISBN 978 - 1 - 58182 - 587 - 9. External links Official website Free State of Jones on IMDb Free State of Jones at Box Office Mojo Free State of Jones at Rotten Tomatoes Free State of Jones at Metacritic Smithsonian magazine : `` The true story of the Free State of Jones '' Films directed by Gary Ross Pleasantville ( 1998 ) Seabiscuit ( 2003 ) The Hunger Games ( 2012 ) Free State of Jones ( 2016 ) Ocean 's 8 ( 2018 ) Films produced by Scott Stuber The Break - Up ( 2006 ) You, Me and Dupree ( 2006 ) The Kingdom ( 2007 ) Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins ( 2008 ) Role Models ( 2008 ) Love Happens ( 2009 ) Couples Retreat ( 2009 ) The Wolfman ( 2010 ) Repo Men ( 2010 ) Love & Other Drugs ( 2010 ) Your Highness ( 2011 ) Safe House ( 2012 ) Battleship ( 2012 ) Ted ( 2012 ) Admission ( 2013 ) 47 Ronin ( 2013 ) A Million Ways to Die in the West ( 2014 ) Ted 2 ( 2015 ) Free State of Jones ( 2016 ) Central Intelligence ( 2016 ) Office Christmas Party ( 2016 ) Patriots Day ( 2016 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Free_State_of_Jones_(film)&oldid=854584728 '' Categories : 2016 films English - language films American films Films directed by Gary Ross Films produced by Scott Stuber Films shot in New Orleans Films shot in Louisiana American war films War films based on actual events Films based on non-fiction books Thriller films based on actual events American historical films American drama films American thriller films 2010s war films 2010s drama films 2010s thriller films 2010s historical films American Civil War films Anti-war films 2010s biographical films American biographical films African - American genealogy Films about American slavery Films about interracial romance Drama films based on actual events Films set in 1862 Films set in 1863 Films set in 1864 Films set in 1865 Films set in 1868 Films set in 1875 Films set in 1876 Films set in 1948 Films set in Mississippi STX Entertainment films Screenplays by Gary Ross Huayi Brothers films American action films Action drama films 2010s political films Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from August 2016 Articles to be expanded from July 2016 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Español Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Українська 中文 7 more Edit links This page was last edited on 12 August 2018, at 11 : 31 ( UTC ). 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Question: where was the movie free state of jones filmed
Answer: in and around New Orleans