King Richard trailer: Will Smith serves up an emotional game of determination

If you want something to pump you up this afternoon, you need to look no further than the new King Richard trailer. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men, Good Joe Bell), King Richard chronicles the inspiring story of Serena and Venus Williams and how one father’s determination to see his children rise above the rest became a story of legend.

Here’s the official synopsis for King Richard:

Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams (Will Smith) is determined to write his daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on Compton, California’s neglected tennis courts—rain or shine—the girls are shaped by their father’s unyielding commitment and their mother’s balanced perspective and keen intuition, defying the seemingly insurmountable odds and prevailing expectations laid before them. Based on the true story that will inspire the world, “King Richard” follows the uplifting journey of a family whose unwavering resolve and unconditional belief ultimately delivers two of the world’s greatest sports legends.

Aunjanue Ellis (If Beale Street Could Talk, Quantico) plays the girls’ mom, Oracene “Brandi” Williams, Saniyaa Sidney (Hidden Figures, Fences) stars as Venus Williams, Demi Singleton (Godfather of Harlem) stars as Serena Williams, with Tony Goldwyn (the Divergent series, Scandal) as coach Paul Cohen and Jon Bernthal (The Many Saints of Newark, Ford v Ferrari) as coach Rick Macci.  The ensemble also includes Andy Bean (IT Chapter Two), Kevin Dunn (the Transformers films, HBO’s Veep), and Craig Tate (Greyhound).

Early reviews for King Richard have been glowing, with many critics saying that the film is a sure-fire Awards contender.

In addition to the social media reactions, Gregory Ellwood from “The Playlist” says, “Obviously, it’s hard for an actor as well known as Will Smith to escape his public persona on screen. It’s that inherent charisma that made him one of the biggest movie stars in the world. But unlike his turn as Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann’s Ali, this is a performance he almost completely loses himself in. The fact you simply forget Smith is playing Richard is a notable accomplishment considering the film’s 2 hours and 18 minutes run time.”

Peter Debruge from “Variety” adds, “Impressive as Smith is as the scruffy, slightly stoop-shouldered Richard — channeling the actor’s natural charisma into a kind of stubborn yet supportive focus — the movie offers him a formidable equal in Ellis as his wife. Publicly, Brandi lets Richard call the shots, but in private (where the movie’s most impactful scenes take place), she’s not afraid to remind him that the Williams family project is a group effort.”

Speaking for “The Hollywood Reporter“, Stephen Farber says, “Although Smith’s outstanding performance dominates the film, he is not the whole show. Aunjanue Ellis also shines as the girls’ sensible mother, who has the strength to defy her husband when he gets carried away on his ego trip. Hers is not as flashy a role as Smith’s, but she balances him with understated warmth and wisdom. Jon Bernthal is also excellent as Venus’ savvy coach; he brings humor and a believable mix of exasperation and resignation to his frustrating battles with Williams, which he almost invariably loses.”

Lastly, Todd McCarthy from “Deadline” adds, “Will Smith hits a winner with King Richard. Playing the driven, eccentric and controversial father of budding tennis prodigies Venus and Serena Williams in the late 1980s and 1990s, the protean actor finds a new gear as he inhabits a complicated and gutsy man who trailblazes a path for two highly talented girls in their early teens in a sport where Black aspirants were virtually unheard of, especially in the female ranks. This engaging account of an unprecedented double-whammy success story for two sisters will play very well with all manner of audiences.”

What do you think of today’s new King Richard trailer? I got a bit choked up while watching it, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. It’s icons like Serena and Venus Williams that inspire people all across the globe to push themselves to the limit and beyond. To see their journey treated with such care has me very excited to see this film when it’s served up in theaters and on HBO Max next month.

King Richard hits screens and HBO Max on November 19, 2021.