Source: Jim Spellman / Getty
Will Smith could be this close to signing up for one of his biggest roles yet!
According to Deadline, the 50-year-old actor is poised to play Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, in the upcoming film King Richard.
Based on 2018 The Black List runner up script by Zach Baylin, King Richard centers on the real-life father who with no tennis background coached his girls into becoming tennis icons, with his youngest Serena winning 23 Grand Slam titles.
As Deadline noted, “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.”
It’s unclear when the film will go into production, but what we do know is that Tim White and Trevor White will produce the film under Star Thrower Entertainment, alongside Smith and his Overbrook Entertainment banner, Deadline wrote.
Granted, there are plenty of people excited to see Will take on such a misunderstood and powerful character, but it is hard to ignore the questions and concerns folks about this casting, especially around Will and Richard’s contrasting skin tones.
Here’s what some of Black Twitter had to say:
Will Smith Wants To Play Venus & Serena Williams’ Father In New Film, Black Twitter Has Questions was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
1.
Just like Chadwick shouldn’t have played Thurgood Marshall, Will should not play Richard
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) March 4, 2019
Skin color matters in how folk were treated and navigated spaces. Is Alexandra Shipp playing Venus? https://t.co/iNtikcsIoT
2.
I think Will Smith is a talented actor (I'm a fan of a lot of the stuff he's done). But they couldn't find a darker skinned black man to play the role of Richard Williams?
— Princess Elle (@noelleharmony) March 4, 2019
If I was asked to play Venus or Serena, I'd turn the role down. Color representation also matters.
3.
Did we ask for this? https://t.co/Q4vQwJveZS
— kiramadeira 🤔 (@kiramadeira) March 4, 2019
4.
No, no, no, no, no, Will Smith will not make a good candidate for Richard Williams... just like he wasn't a good candidate for a genie!! First of all he's too light in complexion and secondly he looks nothing like Richard. A better candidate would be Morris Chestnut
— Glory Days (@shari_1212) March 5, 2019
5.
6.
Will smith doesn't even vaguely resemble Richard Williams. Why?!?!!!! They couldve gotten Mahershala ali. Not will friggin smith. Argh!
— Local Luzah of Leisure (@luphumloisjaded) March 4, 2019
7.
8.
I DO NOT WANT WILL SMITH PLAYING RICHARD WILLIAMS. NO NO NOOOOOOOOO!
— Local Luzah of Leisure (@luphumloisjaded) March 4, 2019
9.
I’m tired of Will Smith. I would like to see someone else play Richard Williams. I’ll even take Jamie Foxx over him.
— David Cuffin (@Massuh_Ace) March 4, 2019
10.
I’m tired of Will Smith. I would like to see someone else play Richard Williams. I’ll even take Jamie Foxx over him.
— David Cuffin (@Massuh_Ace) March 4, 2019
11.
Someone call idris or mahershala
— TdotJohn (@TdotJohn) March 4, 2019
12.
A light skinned man is supposed to play a dark skinned man? What in the Zoe Saldana and Nina Simone is going on here?! https://t.co/yEvELMKvlW
— Preston Mitchum (@PrestonMitchum) March 4, 2019
13.
Was Richard Roundtree not available? https://t.co/A2r6AayEUG
— Good Trouble (@JLBarrow) March 4, 2019
14.
Me: Will Smith bouta play Venus & Serena’s dad in a biopic.@TheQueenSpeaks_ : Why? There are other Black actors.
— your favorite Black girl’s original nose (@janiciaf) March 5, 2019
Hollywood: Are there tho? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/N0aTfKBMlP
15.
Where is the resemblance between Will Smith and Serena Williams and Venus Williams father? One word colorstruck
— Keke, (@lache1992) March 5, 2019
16.
#WillSmith....Fresh Prince of Bel Air Will Smith...Pursuit of Happiness Will Smith, is gonna play Venus and Serena Williams father in a biopic. The resemblance is uncanny. pic.twitter.com/EbT28gN0Me
— Just_CJ (@cjwizgeek) March 5, 2019
17.
— Christopher Morris (@raywayne20) March 5, 2019
18.
Do you think he was requested by the family? 🤔 https://t.co/Csd5IlOuCs
— gaetane michelle ☕️ (@GEEdotMichelle) March 5, 2019
19.
20.
Is Don Cheadle dead? Or any talented darkskin actor for that matter? https://t.co/28Jrt6GVOl
— Not your mule (@__c__d_) March 5, 2019
21.
22.
.. hey Will
— ATLScene ❄️ (@ATLscene) March 5, 2019
I can’t.. https://t.co/UY7qm4nWy5
23.
I’ll take David Harewood for the win! pic.twitter.com/F6YkkpLKCm
— Brian Perry (@Road2Oscars) March 5, 2019
24.
Richard roundtree would've been a great pick pic.twitter.com/7HAJtrVoUL
— her (@eye_tease) March 5, 2019
25.
Strange casting choice. IMHO, Michael K. Williams would be a better pick.
— Blackonbothsides (@Biographer1986) March 4, 2019
26.
Hollywood does a poor job with “skin matching” black characters. We are supposed to believe these are the same character on This Is Us — one as a kid and one as an adult. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/HkHEWWCgsJ
— D Merle (@dmsr89) March 5, 2019
