King Richard (film)

A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams.

• Will Smith as Richard Williams
• Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene "Brandy" Price
• Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams
• Demi Singleton as Serena Williams
• Jon Bernthal as Rick Macci
• Tony Goldwyn as Paul Cohen
• Dylan McDermott as Will Hodges
• Susie Abromeit as Robin Finn
• Katrina Begin as Anne Worcester
• Judith Chapman as Nancy Reagan
• Noah Bean as Steven

The project was announced in March 2019, with Will Smith set to play Williams in the film, written by Zach Baylin.[3] At the same time, Warner Bros. won the bidding war for the film.[4] Reinaldo Marcus Green was brought on as director in June.[5]

In January 2020, Demi Singleton and Saniyya Sidney were cast to play Serena and Venus respectively, with Aunjanue Ellis cast as their mother Brandi Williams. Jon Bernthal also entered negotiations to play Rick Macci.[6][7] In February 2020, Liev Schreiber and Susie Abromeit joined the cast.[8][9] In March 2020, Dylan McDermott, Katrina Begin and Judith Chapman had joined the cast of the film.[10][11]

Principal photography began in January 2020 in Los Angeles.[12] According to the California Film Commission, the production spent $35.6 million in the state, with $7.5 million returned in tax credits.[1] In October 2020, Tony Goldwyn joined the cast of the film, replacing Schreiber who dropped out due to a scheduling conflict as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, before the resuming of filming later in the month.[13]

The film is scheduled to be released on November 19, 2021 in theatres and on HBO Max.[2] It was previously scheduled to be released on November 25, 2020,[14] but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

• King Richard at IMDb