Will Smith might just finally win an Oscar for his performance of Richard Williams, father and coach to tennis aces Venus and Serena. 

It’s an extraordinary ‘against all odds’ story and one with so Hollywood an ending that it might have been dismissed as too unbelievable. But the story of Venus and Serena Williams rise from Compton – one of the most socially deprived areas of LA – to dominate the mostly white, mostly wealthy world of professional tennis is true. They’ve been big names for so long in the world of sport, it’s easy to forget just how phenomenal their achievements have been. 

Both Serena and Venus are executive producers on this biopic of their father Richard, their coach, manager, mentor and inspiration. In the title role, Will Smith, who has been twice nominated for an Oscar, will no doubt be hoping that this time he gets to hold the gold statue. 

The focus on Richard, rather than his two daughters, makes sense. It was Richard who, from the very beginning, had a plan to make his girls icons. In fact, he created a 78 page document, charting their future careers before they were even born. He was the early driving force behind the audacious bid to turn not one but two of his daughters into global tennis superstars. When they were still unknowns, a coach tells him, “I think you might just have the next Michael Jordan”. Richard replies, “oh no, brother, man. I’ve got me the next two.”

It wasn’t just their sporting prowess that needed to be nurtured and honed to brilliance. Tennis was and, still largely is, a white person’s sport. In one scene, we see the Williams family been stared at as they arrive at a tennis event. Don’t worry, Richard reassures them, these people just haven’t seen anyone as good-looking as us before.

Later he tells his daughters: “You will be representing every little Black girl on Earth.”

There’s also the issue that Compton is as far away from Country Club tennis courts as it’s possible to get.  The barriers are financial as well as racial. When a coach asks why he hasn’t heard of the Williams sisters, he’s told “they’re from Compton”. It’s not just a predominantly black area it’s social deprived as well.

King Richard is an unashamedly feel good movie and a timely one. For the last year, issues of race – not just in the US but across the world – have, rightly, focused on the abuse people of colour endure whether at the hands of people or so-called football fans. Here the focus is on raw talent, hard work, determination and achievement.

For Will Smith, it’s one more shot at an Oscar. He was nominated for The Pursuit of Happyness and Ali. He and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, were vocal in their outrage at the lack of diversity in the 2016 Oscar nominations and vowed not to attend the ceremony. The criticism has borne fruit and nominations in recent years were far more inclusive. 

With the Williams sisters behind him, it’s just possible that Smith too can achieve his dream.