How ‘King Richard’ brought Venus and Serena Williams to the Oscars
Many are wondering whether this is finally Will Smith’s year to win that elusive Oscar.
Portraying the father of Venus and Serena Williams, his Richard Williams, alongside Aunjanue Ellis’ Oracene, made a powerful pair in the biographical “King Richard.†The film premiered at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival to rave reviews and won over fans with a November release in theaters and on HBO Max.
Times critic Justin Chang says that “what we see on-screen is both rewardingly jagged and uncommonly thoughtful, an engrossing family drama that doubles as a sharp rethink of how a family operates within the overlapping, often overbearing spheres of race, class, sports and celebrity.â€
The film received six Oscar nominations, including best picture, lead actor (Smith), supporting actress (Ellis), film editing, original song (the Beyoncé co-written “Be Aliveâ€) and original screenplay (penned by a persistent Zach Baylin).
- 1
Crowd-pleasing drama ‘King Richard’ could earn Will Smith his first Oscar, playing the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.
- 2
Reinaldo Marcus Green’s biographical sports drama also boasts strong performances from Aunjanue Ellis and Saniyya Sidney.
- 3
Why executive producer Isha Price decided to work with director Reinaldo Marcus Green to ensure an accurate portrayal of her father, “King Richard†Williams.
- 4
‘King Richard’ stars Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis on the pressures and joy of portraying living icons and finding the emotional truth of Richard and Oracene Williams’ relationship.
- 5
The big scene: Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis on their ‘Ali-Frazier’ moment in ‘King Richard’
The actors made it a point to give each parent credit for helping to shape tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
- 6
‘King Richard’ actor Aunjanue Ellis discusses her performance as Oracene Price, mother of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams.
- 7
Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton go from the courts of Compton to a world stage in ‘King Richard.’
- 8
How Will Smith’s ‘King Richard’ reveals Venus and Serena Williams’ dad as a sports hero
- 9
Zach Baylin poured his heart into writing “King Richard,†about tennis champs Venus and Serena Williams, seeing in it an inspiring underdog story about their father, and an ode to a family.
- 10
Changing the setting, and timing, of a father-daughter heart-to-heart amped up the emotion.
- 11
The prolific jazz pianist and composer, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, possesses ‘the pixie dust of passion,’ says director and collaborator Ava DuVernay — ‘something that can’t really be taught, and it can’t be manufactured.’
- 12
The AFI premiere: Photos of ‘King Richard’ red carpet with Will Smith, Serena and Venus Williams
Will Smith, Venus and Serena Williams and others arrive for the ‘King Richard’ AFI Fest premiere in Los Angeles.
- 13
For many of us who grew up in the fire but were shielded from the heat, we see in Richard Williams a man we recognize and understand.
- 14
He’s been nominated just twice. Maybe the third time is the charm for the “King Richard†actor.
