Whenever Will Smith is in the conversation, audiences can expect drama. That's not to say the veteran actor attracts attention to himself, but it somehow follows him around.
Recently, word came out that Smith was at the center of another spat. This time, it was on the 2005 film Hitch's set. The movie's director, Andy Tenant, opened up about the debacle in an interview with Business Insider, where he divulged the details.
According to Tenant, he and Smith butted heads from the very beginning. Smith wanted to make one movie, while the director wanted to do something different. The bickering didn't last long, though. They came to an accord, creating something unique from their collective vision. The $300 million worldwide box office is evidence that they made magic.
As to how the pair put their differences aside, Tenant attributes that to Smith's wife. Andy Tenant gives Jada Pinkett credit for "seconding his instincts," which presumably means Will was more agreeable to ideas that Jada felt worked. It worked in the long run because the result was better than anticipated.
The odd thing about Hitch's success is it didn't improve Smith and Tenant's relationship. Apparently, the movie star has begun developing a sequel to Hitch without the original director's involvement. Tenant briefly spoke about the new movie, informing the site that he went to Sony Pictures with a pitch, but they had an odd response—Smith is working on it by himself. He's using his own production company, which Sony okayed, so it's happening.
As far as the sequel goes, it remains a mystery. One guess is the film will kick off with Hitch starting a new practice. He had to close up shop when word about his services leaked, but a twenty-year hiatus should be long enough for the professional date doctor to regain his anonymity. Creating a new business should be easy enough. And in the digital age, Hitch can operate remotely without ever showing his face.
There is, however, another possibility. Perhaps Smith will want to take a backseat to the acting portion and have another individual take over for him as Hitch. If true, Albert is the logical candidate to step in. Kevin James' character rode off into the sunset, enjoying a happily ever after with the woman of his dreams. He'd still need a job, though. What better prospect than a dating coach? Having a character turn over a new leaf that way would be par for the course. Adorable schlubs like Kevin James hit their stride once confidence kicks in. Going from a nervous wreck to a dating coach plays into that trope.
Whatever the case is with Hitch 2, Will Smith will probably make an announcement soon. He'll have to say something now that the cat is out of the bag. Who knows if he intended to announce the project this soon or not, but with Tenant accidentally making the reveal on his behalf, the Fresh Prince actor has no choice but to broadcast the news.
Hitch is currently streaming on Peacock and Fandango At Home.