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Beyonce blessed her fans with a new single, called Be Alive, in the new trailer for Will Smith’s upcoming biopic about the father of Venus and Serena Williams.
Nearly halfway through the three-minute preview, which the 53-year-old Hitch star introduced alongside the tennis superstars, Queen Bey, 40, can be heard soulfully belting.
‘It feels so good to be alive, that’s why I live my life with pride,’ the track goes, with 28-time Grammy winner pleading: ‘Do you know how much we have pride? / How hard we have to try?’
Listen up! Beyonce blessed her fans with a new single called Be Alive in the new trailer for Will Smith’s upcoming biopic cabout the dad of Venus and Serena Williams
The ballad perfectly accompanied the emotional trailer, which followed how Richard Williams helped train his daughters into two of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Serena, 40, penned a sweet message to her 10.7 million followers, which read: ‘I’m SO excited for you to watch the new trailer for #KingRichard starring Will Smith and featuring the song “Be Alive” by @Beyonce . It’s in theaters and streaming exclusively on @HBOMax November 19.’
The first look at King Richard shows the struggles the athletes’ dad had to get his girls to be taken seriously in the sport.
Special announcement: Nearly halfway through the three-minute preview, which the 53-year-old Hitch star introduced alongside the tennis superstars, Queen Bey, 40, can be heard soulfully belting
Serena, 40, penned a sweet message to her 10.7 million followers, which read: ‘I’m SO excited for you to watch the new trailer for #KingRichard starring Will Smith and featuring the song “Be Alive” by @Beyonce . It’s in theaters and streaming exclusively on @HBOMax November 19’
Footage showed the actors recreating scenes of Richard and his children (played by Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton) as they practiced on a public tennis court in Compton.
The tennis prodigies grew up playing in their neighborhood on a court surface littered with scratches and holes with no water fountains or lights.
Smith palpably embodies Richard Williams’ relentless determination in making his girls the ‘next two’ Michael Jordans in clip, despite having limited tennis experience.
‘Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons,’ reads a press release from Warner Bros.
Not giving up: The first look at King Richard shows the struggles the athletes’ dad had to get his girls to be taken seriously in the sport
Hard work: Footage showed the actors recreating scenes of Richard and his children (played by Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton) as they practiced on a public tennis court in Compton
Big dreams: Smith palpably embodies Richard Williams’ relentless determination in making his girls the ‘next two’ Michael Jordans in clip, despite having limited tennis experience
Adding: ‘The profoundly moving film shows the power of family, perseverance and unwavering belief as a means to achieve the impossible and impact the world.’
The trailer begins with Venus and Serena arriving to their Compton, California home with dad Richard after tennis practice in the pouring rain to find a white social worker ‘checking’ on the children.
Award worthy: Shortly after the trailer dropped, Will Smith was already getting Oscar buzz for his portrayal of Richard Williams (right)
Tall order: He’s told in the trailer that the chances of Venus and Serena achieving the type of ‘greatness’ he saw possible was ‘very, very unlikely – and yet he persisted
A calm yet frustrated Richard tells her: ‘I don’t even mind you saying we hard on these kids. You know why? ‘Cause we are. That’s our job. To keep ’em off these streets.
‘You wanna check on the kids? Let’s check on the kids. We got future doctors, and lawyers, plus a couple tennis stars in this house,’ he emphatically tells her while shots of young Venus and Serena practicing flash on the screen.
After watching Virginia Ruzici win a tournament on television in 1980, Richard became determined to coach his daughters to tennis greatness.
He’s told in the trailer that the chances of Venus and Serena achieving the type of ‘greatness’ he saw possible was ‘very, very unlikely – and yet he persisted.
Herstory: Richard started coaching the girls when they were just four and a half years old, taking them to public tennis courts
Laser focus: Richard’s determination to get his daughters to the top of the sport of tennis is never more evident in the trailer than when Will Smith is seen explaining that he had written a ’78-page plan for their whole career before they was even born’
Close knit: Despite his tough approach to coaching, the relationship between Venus, Serena and their father appears warm and loving
Richard started coaching the girls when they were just four and a half years old.
As the girls aged into their pre-teen years, Richard convinces Tony Goldwyn, who plays Paul Cohen to ‘watch ’em hit a few balls.’
‘So, whatchu think?’ he asks Cohen after the girls displayed their skills. The coach could only reply with an open-mouth stare of shock.
Goldwyn was added to the cast in the fall of 2020 replacing actor Liev Schreiber in the role.
Exceptional: Venus (right) was the first African-American woman to be ranked #1 atop the Women’s Tennis Association rankings in the Open Era and second all time after Althea Gibson
Richard’s determination to get his daughters to the top of the sport of tennis is never more evident in the trailer than when Will Smith is seen explaining that he had written a ’78-page plan for their whole career before they was even born.’
Despite what was no doubt a tough upbringing with an endless amount of hard practice, his plan succeeded far greater than he likely could have even predicted.
The Williams sisters, particularly Serena, would go on to become two of the most dominant tennis players – and athletes in any sport – of all time.
‘I think you might just have the next Michael Jordan,’ Jon Bernthal, who is playing tennis coach Rick Macci, says.
Legend: Serena has 73 WTA singles titles with 39 Grand Slam titles over her illustrious career, with the highest earnings ($92.7 million) all time
‘Oh no brother man. I got me the next two,’ Richard responds confidently.
Venus was the first African-American woman to be ranked #1 atop the Women’s Tennis Association rankings in the Open Era and second all time after Althea Gibson.
Serena has 73 WTA singles titles with 39 Grand Slam titles over her illustrious career, with the highest earnings ($92.7 million) all time.
The pressure on the athletes as young girls is felt throughout the trailer, particularly in one moment when Richard explains through tears: ‘You’re gonna be representing every little black girl on earth.’
Cast: Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard stars Will Smith, Jon Bernthal, Tony Goldwyn, Dylan McDermott, Susie Abromeit, Aunjanue Ellis, Noah Bean, Hannah Barefoot, Judith Chapman, Andy Bean, Katrina Begin, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard stars Will Smith, Jon Bernthal, Tony Goldwyn, Dylan McDermott, Susie Abromeit, Aunjanue Ellis, Noah Bean, Hannah Barefoot, Judith Chapman, Andy Bean, Katrina Begin, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton.
Venus and Serena Williams, along with their sister Isha Prince, all serve as executive producers on the film.
‘The most dangerous creature on this earth,’ Richard tells the girls while driving,’ is a woman who can think.’
‘The most dangerous creature on this earth,’ Richard tells the girls while driving,’ is a woman who can think’
Behind the scenes: Venus and Serena Williams, along with their sister Isha Prince, all serve as executive producers on the film
Sidney plays Venus Williams in the film and is the spitting image of a younger version of the now 41-year-old tennis star wearing her iconic hairstyle of box braids covered with white beads.
Singleton, meanwhile, takes on the role of Serena Williams, now 39, and perfectly captures the champion’s winning spirit.
Production on King Richard was halted in March after just three weeks of filming due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
King Richard hits theaters November 19, 2020 as well as streaming on HBO Max.
Hitting the big screen: King Richard hits theaters November 19, 2020 as well as streaming on HBO Max
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