For a movie called Hitch, things certainly didn’t go off without one on set, according to director Andy Tennant.
While speaking with Business Insider, Tennant opened up about the making of the 2005 rom-com starring Will Smith, which the star allegedly tried to back out of a mere “three days” before filming started.
“The movie I wanted to make and the movie Will wanted to make, neither one of those movies is as good as the movie we made together,” he explained of the “difficulties” the film had behind the scenes. “It was a battle.”
Citing the support of Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, whom he described as “a big help” who “kind of seconded some of [Tennant’s] instincts,” Tennant admitted to “pushing back” during prep for the film and that there was “a lot of crazy shit” taking place.
“Crazy story ideas,” he clarified. “There was a draft that Will brought in that I was not a fan of. I finally told the studio that I was more afraid of Will making that version of the movie than I was about them firing me. Because I knew they were right on the edge of firing me before we even began shooting. And to Will’s credit, we didn’t go with that draft. I don’t think I was ever in anyone’s favor.”
Hitch centers around Will’s Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, a “date doctor” who helps out Albert Brennaman (Kevin James), an accountant vying for the affections of an heiress named Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta).
Though Tennant concluded that “it was a bunch of good creative people doing the best they could” once they began filming, he acknowledged that “there was a lot of fear doing a big, expensive romantic comedy” with Will.
“It was fraught with peril. Will tried to back out three days before we started shooting,” he shared. “He wanted to shut down and work on it some more. It was madness.”
As for why Will chose to take on a rom-com, Tennant, who praised the Men in Black actor as “an incredible businessman,” highlighted that Will “knew that there were places around the world where he wanted to open up his brand and do more.” He also explained that the studio had told Will “that romantic comedies with Black leads don’t travel well overseas.”
“That was the reason why Will wanted to do it. He wanted to break that barrier,” he shared.
While Tennant revealed that he”submitted a proposal for a sequel,” he said he learned “about three months ago” that Will — whom he has not heard from since working on Hitch — is developing one without him.
“I had a really good idea for a sequel, and I was talking to an executive at Sony, and he said Will’s production company is developing a sequel,” he said. “Hey, that’s Hollywood.”
Hitch is streaming on Peacock.
The post Will Smith Tried To Back Out Of ‘Hitch’ Just 3 Days Before Filming, Director Says: “It Was Madness” appeared first on Decider.
