Will Smith out in NYC

Will Smith Wrote BIG Personal Checks To 'King Richard' Co-Stars

Home / Stars / Will Smith Wrote BIG Personal Checks To 'King Richard' Co-Stars

By MLC on November 8, 2021 at 7:30 PM EST

Will Smith’s new nickname is “King Money Bags,” or at least that’s what people should be calling him.

The award-winning actor is getting ready for the release if his newest film, “King Richard.”

“King Richard” is about Venus and Serena Williams’ rise to fame and the impact their father, Richard Williams, had on their tennis careers.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Smith gifted his co-stars cash bonuses for being in the acclaimed drama film.

The “Suicide Squad” actor reportedly paid as much as $40 million for the film and wrote checks payable to his co-stars.

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Will 'Money Bags' Smith

Will Smith on the red carpet
MEGA

The lucky co-stars included Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton, who play his daughters in the film, as well as Tony Goldwyn, Jon Bernthal and Aunjanue Ellis, among others, according to THR.

A source told the outlet, the actor’s gift was in addition to the salaries the actors earned from the film

Smith’s generous gifts came after Warner Bros. changed the release plan for the upcoming movie to debut simultaneously in theaters and on its streaming platform HBO Max on November 19, per THR.

The bonus served as compensation for the HBO Max release strategy, the source told the outlet.

Goldwyn spoke to Access Hollywood and confirmed Smith did in fact gift hefty bonuses.

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Will Smith becomes Richard Williams

"I've been doing this for over 30 years. I have never worked with anyone as generous as Will. What you said [he gave bonuses/gifts to all of the talent] is true,” Goldwyn expressed. “When this movie, when Warner Brothers decided not to release it, to put it out on streaming, there was a lot of controversy as people know and we just got a call from Will saying, 'I'm going to make this right.' I've never experienced it, I was floored. I just couldn't believe it."

Smith is getting massive Oscar buzz for his portrayal of Richard Williams.

In addition to “King Richard,” Smith is hot on the heels of the release of his self-titled memoir, “Will.”

His new book takes a deep look into his childhood, adolescents, rise to fame and starting a family.

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The Blast reported on his chat with Oprah Winfrey for “The Oprah Conversation” which aired over the weekend.

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“I want to tell the truth. I want to let people have it. I’ve carried, most of life, the sense of failing every woman I interact with. I haven’t talked about that publicly,” he told Oprah in a sneak peek.

The teaser didn’t expand any further upon it, but one can assume this statement refers to failing his mother by not being able to protect her from his abusive father, possibly his first failed marriage, and potentially his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith.

At another point in the trailer Will speaks candidly about love.

“Love being the most fearful place you’ll ever try and step into. Real love. That unconditional love…to be able to open a broken heart again,” he says.

As fans of Will and Jada’s know, they had a very public upset in their marriage when the actress revealed she was in an entanglement some years ago with August Alsina.

Will later revealed to GQ, that he and Jada have allowed each other to seek intimacy outside of their relationship. They are in an open marriage.

“We have given each other trust and freedom, with the belief that everybody has to find their own way. And marriage for us can’t be a prison. And I don’t suggest our road for anybody. I don’t suggest this road for anybody,” he explained. “But the experiences that the freedoms that we’ve given one another and the unconditional support, to me, is the highest definition of love.”

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