King Richard, the highly anticipated story of Venus and Serena Williams and the plan their father, Richard Williams, had to make them tennis champions hits theaters today.
The film stars Will Smith as the title character and Reinaldo Marcus Green, who directed the film, tells ABC Audio that his movie explores how Richard is a complicated man.
“Look, nobody’s perfect. But I think there is no doubt that that man loved his kids and gave a tremendous amount of time and commitment to their story and to who they are as a family,” he explained.
Venus and Serena’s mother, Oracene Williams, is played by Aunjanue Ellis and she shared the movie is a powerful story about love and family and she hopes it will inspire others.
Recalling one of her “favorite scenes” in King Richard where “Will says to Venus that she’s not just representing her, she’s representing…all the little black girls in the world,” Ellis gets emotional and shares, “I mean, that’s the movie for me.”
It’s not all rainbows and blue skies though, viewers will also see that life wasn’t easy for the family.
“We see that struggle play out for them early on in the film,” says Green. “Five girls living in one bedroom, five girls taking a really tiny VW bus, five girls hanging posters and picking up balls and what that’s like as a family.”
Ultimately, Green says it was important to make a story about an inspirational African-American family who loves and supports each other.
“There’s a huge generation of kids out there that need to see themselves, should see themselves, are worth it,” he declares. “And I think stories like this tell us that we’re worth it. And it’s through hard work and dedication, not through anything else.”
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Chris Pratt on the “shocking” success of ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ and Star-Lord’s future
June 2, 2023
Marvel StudiosChris Pratt has earned a little R&R. The actor tells Entertainment Tonight that he's…
Music notes: Taylor Swift, Pink and more
June 2, 2023
Is Paramore’s Hayley Williams appearing on Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)? Fans think…
Kelly Clarkson thinks it was a “red flag” that ex-husband didn’t get her a push present
June 2, 2023
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversalKelly Clarkson is apparently still discovering red flags from her past…
Chris Messina on ‘The Boogeyman’ film’s focus on family
June 2, 2023
L-R: Thatcher, Messina, Blair - Photo: 20th Century StudiosIn a major deviation from the Stephen…
New Music Friday: Lauv, Kelly Clarkson and more
June 2, 2023
Lauv has a new song out called “Steal the Show” from the new Disney-Pixar movie Elemental. The…
Tennis star Naomi Osaka announces she’s pregnant with a girl
June 2, 2023
Presley Ann/Getty Images for Victoria's SecretTennis superstar Naomi Osaka is pregnant with a……
‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ catches super-powered $17 million in Thursday night sneak peeks
June 2, 2023
© 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, the long-awaited,…
Jessie J opens up about having unplanned C-section
June 2, 2023
Joseph Okpako/WireImageJessie J received a flood of responses after opening up about having an…