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The Score: Will Smith to play the father of Serena and Venus Williams in new movie

Hollywood star Will Smith will play the father of tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams in an upcoming movie which will focus on how he taught his daughters to play tennis.

Will Smith will play Richard Williams in a new movie. Picture: AP
Will Smith will play Richard Williams in a new movie. Picture: AP

Hollywood star Will Smith will play the father of tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams in an upcoming movie.

The film will focus on Richard Williams and how he taught his daughters to play tennis, starting at the age of four, on the courts of Compton in California despite his own lack of background in the sport.

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Its title will be King Richard.

The script will follow how the family overcame hardship, scepticism, controversy and Richard’s own troubled past to turn his daughters into two of the sport’s greatest female players.

Smith only recently got into tennis and attended last year’s Australian Open where he was courtside for Nick Kyrgios’s clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Afterwards he posted on his Instagram account: “I haven’t been to many tennis matches but now, I’m pretty sure I’m hooked!”

Will Smith at the Australian Open last year. Picture: Michael Klein
Will Smith at the Australian Open last year. Picture: Michael Klein

Richard Williams has played a lesser role in his daughters careers in recent times because of ill health.

It was reported last year that he’d suffered a series of strokes that had left him barely able to speak.

He didn’t walk his youngest daughter down the aisle for her wedding to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian last year, sending a text just hours before the ceremony to inform Serena of his absence.

Smith will next star in Disney’s Aladdin, which hits cinemas in May.

Richard Williams hugs daughter Serena after her 1999 US Open win.
Richard Williams hugs daughter Serena after her 1999 US Open win.

KANGAS EVENT IN FIRING LINE

North Melbourne fans are a pretty stoic lot.

They’ve been forever fighting for their survival and always find a way to make do with what is thrown at them.

This fighting spirit and ability to plough on despite the hurdles is going to be required on Wednesday night at the club’s season launch.

The obstacles this time around may include circling around some white chalked areas and police tape.

North’s celebration of the upcoming 2019 season is being held at the Melbourne Pavilion, the venue where three men were shot - one killed - during a boxing show on Friday night.

Herald Sun's Footy19 magazine is out from March 2

AFL HEAVIES STILL KICKING

If you want to find some former footballers of note trying to wind back the clock the place to be is East Malvern Oval on a Monday night.

The AFL 9s competition there brings together a who’s who of the AFL industry with league executives, prominent player agents and high-profile club chiefs pulling on the boots.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, a former VAFA star, recently had a run while his lieutenant Andrew Dillon is a regular.

Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains is seen as a powerbroker of the competition and recently recruited the Power brothers, Luke and Sam, to his team.

Former premiership stars James Podsiadly and Blake Caracella have a run around while injuries are a regular occurrence given it has been a while between drinks for a few of the old timers.

We hear an ex-Carlton premiership hero, who now has more time on his hands for such endeavours, may have been the latest victim of the AFL9s hamstring curse.

THE WHISPER

WHICH esteemed cricket writer — who has been quick to point out the flaws in the Test team’s behaviour — seemingly doesn’t practise what he preaches? We hear he was quick to give a few juniors in an opposing team some David Warner-type send-offs in a Sunday competition.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/the-score/the-score-will-smith-to-play-the-father-of-serena-and-venus-williams-in-new-movie/news-story/458e7707e60b67af1c60859c0588b3d6