Will Smith is Richard Williams, in the new feature film King Richard, opening in theaters and on HBO Max today. Executive produced by Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, along with Venus and Serena’s half-sister Isha Price, King Richard is an inspirational film that chronicles the Williams sisters rise to greatness and highlights the hard work of their determined father/coach — Richard Williams.
“I fell in love with Richard Williams 20 something years ago, long before the Williams sisters were household names,” Smith said in an interview with The Upcoming. Smith recalls watching Rick Williams chastise a reporter on live television back in 1995 for attempting to rattle his uber confident 14-year-old daughter Venus Williams. Smith was impressed and never forgot the look of pride on Venus’ face. He knew at that moment that he wanted to be a father like that to his children. When the opportunity to portray Richard Williams came about, he jumped at the chance to “show a father protecting a daughter like that to the world,” said Smith.
King Richard shows a close and loving family — a father and a mother raising five daughters in crime-ridden Compton, California. It tells the story of a father and coach and his relentless confidence in his athlete daughters’ ability to dominate in the tennis world, training young Venus and young Serena from babies to becoming two of the greatest tennis stars of all time. Instilling in them the confidence to deal with the pressure of the game as well as the racism, haterism and the fame. As a huge tennis fan himself, Rick Williams studied tennis and prepared both sisters to win trophies, make money, get endorsements and travel the world playing the sport with humility. Williams assured that the girls learn languages. Serena speaks fluent French and Italian, Venus speaks fluent Italian. Although brought up in the ghetto of Compton, he raised confident, poised, humble young Black women, prepared to travel the world as champions.
King Richard is also the story of a loving mother, Oracene Williams, beautifully portrayed by Aunjanue Ellis (LoveCraft Country, The Clark Sisters). Oracene not only believes in her husband’s dream, she is just as confident as her husband that she is raising future tennis champions, doctors and lawyers in her home. She also gets into it with her husband often when he goes too far, doesn’t include the family in his decisions, or doesn’t recognize her contributions to their seemingly unlikely dream. Oracene doesn’t take a back seat in letting Richard drive the bus to success alone. She is a co-pilot every step of the way.
Venus and Serena both helped talented young actresses Saniyya Sidney (Fences, Hidden Figures) who portrays Venus, and Demi Singleton (Godfather of Harlem) who plays Serena, prepare for their roles. Both actresses spent months studying their counterparts moves, mannerisms and speech, and having phone conversations with the sisters. They also learned to play tennis well enough to look realistic on camera. Both girls also favor their counterparts and did a great job portraying them.
King Richard is a sports drama that tennis fans will love, but it is also a family drama that everyone will love and appreciate. The film is about tennis but doesn’t get bogged down in the technicalities and specifics of the game or in coaching. It is a film rooted in family, parenting, love and struggle. Something all of us can relate to.
I am a tennis fan and loved the film. I also loved Beyonce’s contribution, the song “Be Alive,” which matches the energy of the sisters who are also pop culture icons like Beyonce.
King Richard is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Gree and written by Zach Baylin, stars Will Smith in the title role, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, and Jon Bernthal. Producers include Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Tim White, Trevor White and Isha Price.
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