King Richard | Warner Bros.

[Blitzkrieg]

Hot Spec Du Jour: Will Smith As Venus & Serena’s Tennis Coach Dad In ‘King Richard’

Even though there were no major tennis tournaments last weekend, the minds of industry leaders were courtside anyway. They were reading King Richard, a spec script by Zach Baylin that has Will Smith poised to play Richard Williams. He is the father of Venus and Serena Williams. Despite having no tennis background, he overcame tremendous hardship, skepticism and his own troubled past to raise two of the game’s greatest players. When his daughters were around the age of four, Richard Williams drew up a 78-page plan for their professional tennis careers. He began giving them tennis lessons and the girls learned the game on cracked, weedy public courts in Compton, reportedly after their father brawled with young toughs who were not fans of the sport and would not make way. The Williams sisters went on to become two of the greatest female players in tennis history, with Serena arguably the best ever, with 23 Grand Slam tournament wins. Venus Williams has won seven Grand Slam titles.

 

[Schlosser85]

We need a movie about famous people's dads now?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Paramount Wins Bidding Battle For Kay Oyegun Comedy Spec ‘Assisted Living’ As ‘King Richard’ Still Volleying

Warner Bros, Universal, Netflix were all in the mix for a film sources said is now looking like a $50 million package for a green light and a fall start.

 

[DarkKnight88]

We need a movie about famous people's dads now?

The Joe Jackson movie would be TERRIFYING!

 

[Loden Greatstorm]

Is this really needed?

 

[Schlosser85]

The Joe Jackson movie would be TERRIFYING!

That'd have to be a psychological horror movie.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

@terry78 Where's the Serena & Venus fancast??

I can see one of those roles is going to Amandla Stenberg.

 

[Da-Scribe]

If Stenberg gets cast, then the colorism backlash this flick is already getting is going to be completely insane. I do get the point being made, but I don't feel that the colorism stuff hits male actors in Hollywood the way it does women.

 

[terry78]

as much as I don't like that whole issue, casting someone light skinned to play either of them would be a **** up. And don't even ask for an explanation why, you already know.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

With Barack & Michelle Obama Chasing For Netflix, Warner Bros In Final Talks For Will Smith ‘King Richard’ Williams Tennis Sibs Deal

Warner Bros is looking like the favorite to capture King Richard, a spec script by Zach Baylin that has Will Smith poised to play Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams. This deal will fall in the $60 million budget range, making it as big an auction as we’ve heard of this year, this side of the Lisa Joy-directed package Reminiscence, a film that Warner Bros also landed that has Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson starring. In both cases, Warner Bros essentially guaranteed green lights and agreed to budgets and production start dates for later this year. Smith dropped out of the Suicide Squad sequel, and has an opening in the latter part of the year.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

If Stenberg gets cast, then the colorism backlash this flick is already getting is going to be completely insane. I do get the point being made, but I don't feel that the colorism stuff hits male actors in Hollywood the way it does women.

as much as I don't like that whole issue, casting someone light skinned to play either of them would be a **** up. And don't even ask for an explanation why, you already know.

I really didn't see the potential casting from that pov. I was merely speculating her chances because she's a studio favorite for black female lead roles.

BTDubz, I can see Issa Rae (she's blowing up), Kiki Layne (the next Stenberg in the making??) & Tika Sumpter being considered for either Serena & Venus.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Will Smith Starrer 'King Richard' Finds Director

King Richard — the movie that will star Will Smith as the father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams — has found its director in Sundance breakout Reinaldo Marcus Green. Green, repped by WME, made his directorial debut with Monsters and Men, starring John David Washington and Anthony Ramos, which was picked up by Neon out of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. He most recently completed the Mark Wahlberg-starrer Good Joe Bell.

 

[Web-Head]

Jon Bernthal Rick Macci Venus Serena Williams Coach King Richard Will Smith – Deadline

 

[terry78]

Yes sir.

 

[Pennywise]

Will Smith & Warner Bros Is Sued Over Movie About Serena Williams’ Dad – Deadline

 

[Pennywise]

‘King Richard’: Tony Goldwyn Stepping In For Liev Schreiber In Will Smith Tennis Pic – Deadline

 

[Web-Head]

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Will just might get that Oscar. It looks good.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Deck Rickard]

Looks good!

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Every time I see this thread get bumped, I always assume it is a movie about an English king I forgot was being made.

Smith is his usual self here, but overall I don't think it looks bad. Could be fun.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Every time I see this thread get bumped, I always assume it is a movie about an English king I forgot was being made.

Smith is his usual self here, but overall I don't think it looks bad. Could be fun.

Lol yeah I saw the thread title and I thought it was a movie about the Crusades.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

Will Smith's dramatic work has always been favorite, so I'm definitely down for this and I also had no idea Bernthal was in this, but man is that a nice surprise.

Love seeing him getting more versatile roles these days.

 

[Slick]

Looks pretty good.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Smith is always solid in his dramatic work. They never hit as big as his blockbusters, but maybe this'll be more Pursuit of Happyness and less Concussion.