Will Smith faces backlash as he’s cast as Serena and Venus Williams’ father mirror.co.uk

Will Smith is set to play Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, in an upcoming film. The casting announcement was met with mixed reactions with some questioning the decision for Will Smith to play a darker-skinned man. Deadline reported Smith is linked to King Richard, a new movie that tells the story of the tennis champs’ father. Despite no tennis background he battled against skepticism, hardship and a troubled past to bring up two of the game’s greatest players. Williams drew up a plan for his daughters careers when they were just four-years-old in a 78 page document. Serena has gone on to win 23 Grand Slams and Venus has won seven Grand Slam titles. The film will follow the 77-year-old Louisiana native’s struggles while raising his family in Compton, California. Tim White and Trevor White will produce alongside Smith.