Will Smith Is Going to Play Venus and Serena Williams' Dad in New Movie
Will Smith has been cast in a movie about Richard Williams, father and coach of tennis superstars Venus and Serena, Deadline reports. Based on a spec script by Zach Baylin, King Richard will tell the story of how Williams raised two of the world’s greatest tennis players, despite having no background in the sport himself.
Embarking on his ambitious plans for his daughters’ professional tennis careers when they were around four years old, Williams began teaching them on the public courts in Compton, reportedly having to see off “young toughs” in order to do so. The sisters grew up to become two of the most successful women in the sport; Venus won seven Grand Slam tournaments, while Serena has taken the title an incredible 23 times.
I’m telling you my guy not stopping till he gets the Oscar! https://t.co/rXBkyRqPhO
- Russian Cream (@SupaEngineer) March 5, 2019
While fans of the Williams family are excited and intrigued by the idea of a film about the sisters’ early life and their father’s story, some are concerned that the casting of Will Smith is the latest instance of colorism in Hollywood, and believe that the role should have gone to a dark-skinned black man who would better represent the real-life Richard Williams.
Colorism matters..love will Smith but there are other black actors for this role https://t.co/qrV1QuBiJH
- Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 5, 2019
?? was mahershala not available or any other darker skinned male actor ever?? https://t.co/tBNwgxl8hj
- e (@futiledevicesx) March 5, 2019
Scarlett Johansson might as well play Venus with this kind of mess casting https://t.co/GmDItxrjJm
- Candis R McLean (@CandisRMcLean) March 5, 2019
Colorism is a form of racism that favors mixed-race and light-skinned black people because of their proximity to whiteness-and it is prevalent in the entertainment industry.
"It's part of white supremacy, or holding up whiteness over other backgrounds," Rashad Robinson, executive director of campaigning group Color of Change, recently told NBC. "It has deep implications, historical implications in the black community from beauty standards to professional opportunities to how families have treated one another."
Smith is also attached to produce the film for his company Overlook Entertainment. He is currently shooting action-comedy sequel Bad Boys For Life.
('You Might Also Like',)
