‘It Was Just the Perfect Storm’ – Venus Williams Initial Reaction After Will Smith Decided to Play Titular Role in King Richard

Serena Williams and Venus Williams have been two of the most loved athletes of all time. It was unquestionable that their film ‘King Richard’ would receive a similar kind of gesture from fans around the world. Showering the same amount of love for the movie, King Richard became one of the most cherished movies of 2021. What’s more? The Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis starrer also received 6 Oscar Award nominations.

Recently, the lead cast of the film along with the Williams sisters; Indulged in a chat with a media house. The panel conversed on how the film went beyond the world of tennis and how the two actors embodied the real-life entities. 

During the chat, Venus Williams opened up how she was convinced to think that it was the right time to release King Richard.

The convincing phase of Venus 

Actors Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis, along with executive producers Venus Williams and Serena Williams were speaking to Warner Bros Pictures When Venus was questioned about how she was convinced about the release timing of the film.

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The host of the chat, Kelley Carter asked Venus, “Others I know have wanted to put your story on screen for a long time. What was it about Zach Baylin’s script and the filmmaker’s Will, Tim and Trevor White, and Reinaldo Marcus Green the director that convinced you that this was the right time and this was the right project?”

The 41-year-old champion took the question with utmost grace. Williams, he went to clarify that it was her elder sister who convinced her. She also opened up on how Will Smith also played a major role in her being convinced for the movie.

She said, “Honestly, my older sister, she kept telling me, read the script, read the script. I was like, yeah, yeah, leave me alone, you know. Finally, I read the script ad it was incredible and she says, ‘You know, Will really wants me to be a part of this project and he doesn’t want to do it unless you guys want to. Of course, as soon as I heard that Will is gonna do it, I like ‘play it coo’ and you know, just let me, let me.  I was like, ‘I’m already in and it was just the perfect storm. I don’t know how Serena felt but that’s how I felt.”

She further went on to describe her association with the movie, calling it a ‘wonderful journey’.

Venus Williams on the tour

Venus Williams last played at the 2021 WTA 250 Chicago Women’s Open, losing to Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei in the first round. Following her loss, the former World No.1 withdrew from the US Open citing a leg injury. 

The 2-time US Open champion sidelined herself for the remaining 2021 season. She is yet to play a match in the new year.

Her long absence from the tour has made her ranking take a dip as she stands at the 465th spot currently. 

Watch this story- How Much Serena Williams Earned Through Tennis?