In the past few years’ biopics have taken over the big screen and swept up all the biggest awards. From Bohemian Rhapsody to Rocketman, both these films shed light on the lives of legends. The upcoming and most recent biopic set to take the cinema by storm is ‘King Richard’.
The film stars Will Smith and Liev Shreiber, and Judging from the trailer; it will be an emotional ride, so better have some tissues ready. The real-life inspiration behind the movie is the William family and is based around the chronicle early years of the legendary tennis siblings Venus and Serena Williams. Although the film showcases the story of the tennis duo, the centre of the film is focused on the father of the two, Richard Williams.
The narrative focus on the life of Richard, who Will Smith plays, and documents how Richard Williams trained both his daughters, although he had never played tennis, and helped both Venus and Serena become champions they are today and become the female figures in the new era for women’s tennis.
A few facts about the iconic Richard Williams, He was born in Louisiana in the 1940s, and he grew up in a very poor, immensely racist, and violent environment. His first job was picking cotton as a child, suffering from racial abuse, including when he was five—years old, where a white man beat him.
When he grew up, he decided to make a big move to Chicago, and after a while, he went to California, where he later met his future wife, Oracene (Brandi) Price. Although they both have children from previous relationships, Venus and Serena are their only two biological children.
The motivation that drove Richard to learn and teach his daughter tennis was not loved for the sport but money. He stated that he had read about a pro tennis player, Virginia Ruzici, who had won $40,000. After reading about Ruzici, he knew that tennis was a good way for his children to succeed and decided that professional tennis was the way.
The inspirational and devoted life story of Richard is surely one you will not want to miss.
The film will hit the cinemas on November 19, 2021.
