It may be game, set, match for Will Smith in the best acting category at next year’s Academy Awards as the star is already getting Oscar buzz for his latest role in King Richard.
Warner Bros. dropped the first trailer for the biopic about the hard-nosed father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams whose tough tenacity led his daughters to the top of the game.
Smith palpably embodies Richard Williams’ relentless determination in making his girls the ‘next two’ Michael Jordans in the emotional first trailer.
Making stars: Warner Bros. dropped the first trailer for King Richard, starring Will Smith, on Wednesday which follows the story of Richard Williams, the father of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams, in his relentless quest to make them champions
King Richard is based on the true story of Richard Williams, who, with little tennis experience, decided to raise his daughters Serena and Venus to become tennis champions.
‘Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons,’ reads a press release from Warner Bros.
Adding: ‘The profoundly moving film shows the power of family, perseverance and unwavering belief as a means to achieve the impossible and impact the world.’
The trailer begins with Venus and Serena arriving to their Compton, California home with dad Richard after tennis practice in the pouring rain to find a white social worker ‘checking’ on the children.
Truth is stranger than fiction: King Richard is based on the true story of Richard Williams, who, with little tennis experience, decided to raise his daughters Serena and Venus to become tennis champions
‘Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons,’ reads a press release from Warner Bros.
A calm yet frustrated Richard says: ‘I don’t even mind you saying we hard on these kids. You know why? ‘Cause we are. That’s our job. To keep ’em off these streets.
A calm yet frustrated Richard tells her: ‘I don’t even mind you saying we hard on these kids. You know why? ‘Cause we are. That’s our job. To keep ’em off these streets.
‘You wanna check on the kids? Let’s check on the kids. We got future doctors, and lawyers, plus a couple tennis stars in this house,’ he emphatically tells her while shots of young Venus and Serena practicing flash on the screen.
After watching Virginia Ruzici win a tournament on television in 1980, Richard became determined to coach his daughters to tennis greatness.
He’s told in the trailer that the chances of Venus and Serena achieving the type of ‘greatness’ he saw possible was ‘very, very unlikely – and yet he persisted.
‘You wanna check on the kids? Let’s check on the kids. We got future doctors, and lawyers, plus a couple tennis stars in this house,’ he emphatically tells her while shots of young Venus and Serena practicing flash on the screen.
Origin story: After watching Virginia Ruzici win a tournament on television in 1980, Richard became determined to coach his daughters to tennis greatness
Tall order: He’s told in the trailer that the chances of Venus and Serena achieving the type of ‘greatness’ he saw possible was ‘very, very unlikely – and yet he persisted
Richard started coaching the girls when they were just four and a half years old, taking them to public tennis courts.
As the girls aged into their pre-teen years, Richard convinces Tony Goldwyn, who plays Paul Cohen to ‘watch ’em hit a few balls.’
‘So, whatchu think?’ he asks Cohen after the girls displayed their skills. The coach could only reply with an open-mouth stare of shock.
Richard’s determination to get his daughters to the top of the sport of tennis is never more evident in the trailer than when Will Smith is seen explaining that he had written a ’78-page plan for their whole career before they was even born.’
Herstory: Richard started coaching the girls when they were just four and a half years old, taking them to public tennis courts
Laser focus: Richard’s determination to get his daughters to the top of the sport of tennis is never more evident in the trailer than when Will Smith is seen explaining that he had written a ’78-page plan for their whole career before they was even born’
Despite what was no doubt a tough upbringing with an endless amount of hard practice, his plan succeeded far greater than he likely could have even predicted.
The Williams sisters, particularly Serena, would go on to become two of the most dominant tennis players – and athletes in any sport – of all time.
‘I think you might just have the next Michael Jordan,’ Jon Bernthal, who is playing tennis coach Rick Macci, says.
‘Oh no brother man. I got me the next two,’ Richard responds confidently.
The pressure on the athletes as young girls is felt throughout the trailer, particularly in one moment when Richard explains through tears: ‘You’re gonna be representing every little black girl on earth.’
Venus was the first African-American woman to be ranked #1 atop the Women’s Tennis Association rankings in the Open Era and second all time after Althea Gibson.
Serena has 73 WTA singles titles with 39 Grand Slam titles over her illustrious career, with the highest earnings ($92.7 million) all time.
The pressure on the athletes as young girls is felt throughout the trailer, particularly in one moment when Richard explains through tears: ‘You’re gonna be representing every little black girl on earth.’
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard stars Will Smith, Jon Bernthal, Tony Goldwyn, Dylan McDermott, Susie Abromeit, Aunjanue Ellis, Noah Bean, Hannah Barefoot, Judith Chapman, Andy Bean, Katrina Begin, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton.
Venus and Serena Williams, along with their sister Isha Prince, all serve as executive producers on the film.
‘The most dangerous creature on this earth,’ Richard tells the girls while driving,’ is a woman who can think.’
Saniyya Sidney plays Venus Williams in the film and is the spitting image of a younger version of the now 41-year-old tennis star wearing her iconic hairstyle of box braids covered with white beads.
Demi Singleton, meanwhile, takes on the role of Serena Williams, now 39, and perfectly captures the champion’s winning spirit.
King Richard hits theaters November 19, 2020 as well as streaming on HBO Max.
Hitting the big screen: King Richard hits theaters November 19, 2020 as well as streaming on HBO Max