Will Smith Might Be Playing Venus And Serena Williams' Father In A Film And It's Sparked A Debate About ColourismSkip To ContentHomepageSign InSearch BuzzFeedSearch BuzzFeedlol Badge Feedwin Badge Feedtrending Badge FeedCalifornia residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.Do Not Sell My Personal Information 2022 BuzzFeed, Inc PressRSSPrivacyConsent PreferencesUser TermsAd ChoicesHelpContactSitemapPosted on 5 Mar 2019 Will Smith Might Be Playing Venus And Serena Williams Father In A Film And It s Sparked A Debate About Colourism "Love Will Smith but there are other black actors for this role." by Ade OnibadaBuzzFeed News ReporterFacebookPinterestTwitterMailLink So you might have heard that Will Smith is being tipped to play Richard Williams father to tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams in a film called King Richard Jason Merritt / Getty Images According to Deadline Hollywood, the project will chronicle the life of the Louisiana-born tennis coach, including his dedication to raising his daughters in Compton, California, amid adversity, and developing them into sporting champions. The script, written by Zach Baylin, was a runner-up on the 2018 Black List, an annual survey of Hollywood executives' favourite screenplays that are yet to be produced. Past winners include Slumdog Millionaire and American Hustle. Professional Sport / Getty Images The 77-year-old, who started training the Williams sisters at the age of 4 and a half, is credited as the force behind their dominant sporting careers. His methods included devising a 78-page plan that lays out the blueprint for their training after removing them from tennis academy and opting to train Venus and Serena himself. However reports that Smith is the frontrunner for the role has sparked a debate about the potential casting choice including comments on colourism Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Some people think the role should go to a darker-skinned actor Pikliz Papi @so_rudez Why is he always cast in roles portraying dark skin men like there aren’t tons of black actors that would make more sense for the role? https://t.co/1VcZyCmwTK 12:42 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Smith was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali in Ali, and has also portrayed Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness, and also Dr Bennet Omalu in the film Concussion. Clarence Hill Jr @clarencehilljr Colorism matters..love will Smith but there are other black actors for this role https://t.co/qrV1QuBiJH 05:46 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite e @futiledevicesx ?? was mahershala not available or any other darker skinned male actor ever?? https://t.co/tBNwgxl8hj 12:29 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Be my peace. @connichameleon Is he going to be in blackface? I know there's a dark skinned actor that can play this role. https://t.co/Ilr05aMbuQ 12:22 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Some people have offered their own suggestions for who they think would be a better fit Trenton Johnson @tdjohnson @DEADLINE I would rather see Mahershala Ali or Idris Elba. Colman Domingo would be great too. 04:00 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite sandiesideup @sandiesideup @DEADLINE Mahershala Ali isn’t available??? 10:40 PM - 04 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Eamonn? @eamonn_shannon @DEADLINE Idris Elba or Denzel Washington would’ve been a better choice than Will Smith for the role of their father. 10:31 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Satta @QueenSatta I think Courtney B Vance wouldve been great for this... but okay. https://t.co/iQl881jMmJ 12:26 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Some people have even compared Will Smith to Scarlett Johansson who has become a running joke for actors who repeatedly take up roles they are considered unsuitable for Duh Mon @ThereGoesRhodes Will Smith is turning into Scarlett Johansson... I hope I later find out that Don Cheadle turned this role down https://t.co/txqyOfF59s 09:56 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Candis R McLean @CandisRMcLean Scarlett Johansson might as well play Venus with this kind of mess casting https://t.co/GmDItxrjJm 01:04 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Innocent Chizaram Ilo supports #ArewaMeToo @Ethereal_ilo Scarlett Johansson didn't get the part, what a shame? https://t.co/bZgT1OuqbO 08:29 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Cubby @xianespartero Scarlett Johanson is RIGHT THERE. UGH. https://t.co/OOg12KwFz3 07:49 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Kelly • 73 @hughesytweets Was Scarlett not available? https://t.co/sWfYIc2Bfu 09:03 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite But there are some fans who are in Will s corner and think he is up to the task Mudiaga Eno Anita @enorhmous @DEADLINE it's called acting ?, for those saying will is too fine or idris Elba looks more like him, Hollywood does wonders with makeup. Anyways I'm definitely here for it 10:12 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite Russian Cream @SupaEngineer I’m telling you my guy not stopping till he gets the Oscar! https://t.co/rXBkyRqPhO 02:47 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite And some people think the accusations of colourism are absurd A s h l e y @alildashofash @so_rudez So you know #WillSmith is BLACK right??? This is reverse #colorism and one of the reason we have issues within our community. #WillSmith congratulations!!! 02:06 PM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite A s h l e y @alildashofash @so_rudez So you know #WillSmith is BLACK right??? This is reverse #colorism and one of the reason we have issues within our community. #WillSmith congratulations!!! 02:06 PM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite MrM @Superfind As a white guy I understand the outrage when a caucasian is picked to play a chinese person in a movie, and 'blacking up' is obviously unacceptable - but this is bizarre. Apparently Will Smith is not black enough to play the father of the Williams sisters?! Down to shades now? https://t.co/Ri0gnJmlwv 09:06 AM - 05 Mar 2019 Reply Retweet Favorite BuzzFeed News has reached out to representatives for Will Smith for further comment More on Casting Controversies Scarlett Johansson Said Her "Ghost In The Shell" Role Was About Feminism, Not Race, And People Are Mad Kassy Cho · Feb. 9, 2017 Tony Award-Winning Actor Cynthia Erivo Has Been Cast To Play Harriet Tubman And Not Everyone Is Happy Ade Onibada · Sept. 16, 2018 Scarlett Johansson Quit That Film Where She Was Set To Play A Trans Man After LGBT Outrage Michael Blackmon · July 13, 2018 Ruby Rose Has Quit Twitter After Backlash To Her Casting As Batwoman Rachael Krishna · Aug. 13, 2018 The Actress Playing The New Kim Possible Has Defended Her Casting After Backlash Hannah Agbeni · July 25, 2018 Two Trans Actors Have Spoken Out About Casting In Hollywood Amid Scarlett Johansson Drama Michael Blackmon · July 5, 2018 Share This ArticleFacebook PinterestTwitterMailLink BuzzFeed DailyKeep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter!This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.