Will Smith Gave ‘King Richard’ Co-stars Cash To Compensate For HBO Max Release
Will Smith is all about giving! The actor is reported to have given money to his “King Richard” co-stars to compensate for the impact of Warner Bros.’s decision to release the film on HBO Max instead of keeping it strictly for theaters.
Per The Hollywood Reporter Smith was paid $40 million for the movie and wrote checks to the cast to makeup for the hit.
“A source described the payments as a nice bonus, given by Smith on top of what they already received from the studio as compensation for the pivot to simultaneous HBO Max release strategy,” per THR.
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Tony Goldwyn, one of the stars also confirmed Smith’s generosity to Access Hollywood, “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. 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.”
“King Richard” debuts in theaters and on HBO Max November 19