Will Smithis set to star asSerena WilliamsandVenus Williams‘ dad!On Monday,Deadlinereportedthat Smith, 50, is “poised to play” Richard Williams in a new movie that chronicles the life of the tennis legends’ father.Though the script has not yet been sold, the potential biopicKing Richardwill center around Williams, 77, and how he “overcame tremendous hardship, skepticism and his own troubled past” to coach his daughters to tennis stardom, according toDeadline.PEOPLE is out to Smith’s representatives for comment.Mike Marsland/WireImage; Uri Schanker/GC ImagesVenus Williams, Richard Williams and Serena Williams in 2012.Julian Finney/GettyDespite not having an extensive background in tennis, when Serena, now 37, and Venus, now 38, were children, Williams wrote up a 78-page plan to make them tennis stars. He began giving lessons to his daughters when they were 4-years-old.The sisters are now two of the most famous tennis players in history; Serena has won 23 Grand Slam tournaments, and Venus has won seven.Richard Williams with his daughters in 1991.Paul Harris/Online USA/Getty“It all started with an idea,” Serenaonce said. “It was his idea. It’s changed sports. It’s changed history.”“He’s been the most important person in my career,” she added.The casting news came amid reports that Smith will not return for theSuicide Squadsequel, which is set to open in 2021. The actor will next be seenstarring as the geniein the live-action movieAladdin, which hits theaters in May.
Will Smithis set to star asSerena WilliamsandVenus Williams‘ dad!
On Monday,Deadlinereportedthat Smith, 50, is “poised to play” Richard Williams in a new movie that chronicles the life of the tennis legends’ father.
Though the script has not yet been sold, the potential biopicKing Richardwill center around Williams, 77, and how he “overcame tremendous hardship, skepticism and his own troubled past” to coach his daughters to tennis stardom, according toDeadline.
PEOPLE is out to Smith’s representatives for comment.
Mike Marsland/WireImage; Uri Schanker/GC Images
Venus Williams, Richard Williams and Serena Williams in 2012.Julian Finney/Getty
Despite not having an extensive background in tennis, when Serena, now 37, and Venus, now 38, were children, Williams wrote up a 78-page plan to make them tennis stars. He began giving lessons to his daughters when they were 4-years-old.
The sisters are now two of the most famous tennis players in history; Serena has won 23 Grand Slam tournaments, and Venus has won seven.
Richard Williams with his daughters in 1991.Paul Harris/Online USA/Getty
“It all started with an idea,” Serenaonce said. “It was his idea. It’s changed sports. It’s changed history.”
“He’s been the most important person in my career,” she added.
The casting news came amid reports that Smith will not return for theSuicide Squadsequel, which is set to open in 2021. The actor will next be seenstarring as the geniein the live-action movieAladdin, which hits theaters in May.
source: people.com
