Will Smith and Warner Brothers are bing sued over King Richard Film.
What We Know:
- Will Smith and Warner Brothers are the few named in a new lawsuit over an upcoming movie based on the life of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams.
- According to a report released by Deadline on Wednesday, Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment, Warner Brothers, Richard Williams, Williams’ son Chavoita Lesane, production company Star Thrower Entertainment, and others are also listed as defendants.
- TW3 Entertainment and Power Move Multi-Media allege they bought the rights to Williams’ book three years ago from Lesane for $10,000. Now, they’re asking for unspecified damages from the movie and an injunction that would mandate “all profits” for any project using the rights to be put into a trust for their benefit.
- The seven-claim complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday states “This case presents an unfortunate and tawdry situation: the cold and calculating misappropriation and interference with Plaintiffs’ intellectual property. Plaintiffs’ good faith and contractually protected efforts to bring an amazing story into visual art form were met with Defendants’ greed and disregard for Plaintiff’s existing rights.”
- “Defendant Warner Bros. used Plaintiffs’ ideas and materials in King Richard, and such ideas and materials provide substantial value to Defendant,” the lawsuit continues.
- King Richard is directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. But due to the industry-wide COVID-19 production shutdown, it’s currently not slated for release until late 2021. In addition to Smith, the cast includes Aunjanue Ellis, Demi Singleton, Saniyya Sidney, Jon Bernthal, Liev Schreiber, and Dylan McDermott.
Richard Williams, now 78, is widely credited with being the visionary behind his daughters’ career. Without any formal training, he coached both of them to Grand Slam tennis success in the early years of their careers.
