Deadline is reporting that Will Smith is set to portray Richard Williams, the coach father of hugely successful tennis siblings Venus and Serena Williams, in a biopic entitled King Richard.
Based on a spec script from Zach Baylin, the film will tell the story of how Williams raised two of the sport’s greatest ever players, despite having no tennis background himself. In addition to starring, Smith will produce through his Overbrook Entertainment company, as will Tim White and Trevor White of Star Thrower Entertainment (Wind River, Ingrid Goes West).
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Smith is currently shooting the action-comedy sequel Bad Boys For Life, reuniting with Martin Lawrence, and will next be seen on the big screen as the Genie in Disney’s live-action Aladdin. It was recently announced that he’ll be stepping away from the DC Extended Universe and won’t be reprising his role as Deadshot in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.
Originally published March 7, 2019. Updated March 6, 2019.
