Will Smith is gearing up to revisit one of his most cherished roles, as he is developing a sequel to the beloved 2005 romantic comedy, Hitch. The original film, which co-starred Eva Mendes and Kevin James, celebrated its 20th anniversary recently and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of audiences.
Directed by Andy Tennant, Hitch was both a commercial success and cultural phenomenon, grossing more than $370 million worldwide and becoming the tenth highest-grossing film of 2005. Despite its success, the path to creating the film wasn’t easy for Smith and Tennant, who clashed significantly during the pre-production period.
According to Tennant, just days before shooting began, Smith threatened to walk away from the project. “Will tried to back out three days before we started shooting. He wanted to shut down and work on it some more,” Tennant recalled. The creative tension between the director and star was palpable throughout the process, with Tennant emphasizing, “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. It was a battle.”
The director's concerns ranged from pursuing the right comedic tone to the overall direction of the film. He stated, “I didn’t want cheap jokes, but he didn’t trust me,” illuminating the friction between the two. Tennant faced considerable pressure during their collaboration, even expressing his fear of being fired before filming began. “There was a draft [of the script] Will brought in, and I was not a fan of. I finally told the studio I was more afraid of Will making his version than I was about them firing me,” Tennant shared, emphasizing how close they were to abandoning the initial vision altogether.
Nevertheless, once production commenced, the end result surprised everyone, including Tennant and Smith. The original film went on to resonate with audiences, leading to memorable moments like the comedic scenes featuring Smith teaching James’s character how to find love. “When we saw it for the first time... the audience completely embraced the movie. People were cheering when the movie ended,” Tennant reminisced.
Recently, Tennant learned about the development of the sequel, expressing no hard feelings toward Smith, but noting he is not involved. “I guess Will is developing a Hitch sequel without me...I just found out about it three months ago. 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 it. Hey, that's Hollywood,” said Tennant, displaying his resigned acceptance of the situation.
Interestingly, Eva Mendes also chimed in on the potential for Hitch 2, showing her eagerness to reunite with Smith. During a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mendes exclaimed, “You know what? It’s time for a Hitch 2. Will, let’s do this. Hitch 2.” Her enthusiasm highlights the lasting impact of the original film and the potential it holds if revisited correctly.
With Smith spearheading the sequel, fans are left wondering how the chemistry between the characters will evolve and what new storylines will be explored. The original film, which revolved around Smith’s character, Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, and his romantic escapades as he helped men find their perfect partners, could branch out in various entertaining directions.
Despite past grievances, the film's success solidified Smith’s status as one of Hollywood’s leading stars, and any sequel holds the promise of rekindling audience affection for the franchise. Tennant, who expressed mixed feelings about the challenges experienced during the original shoot, still reflected on the overall joy of traveling the world for promotion, stating, “Even the hard times he'd always say, ‘Wait until the junket. We're gonna go around the world with this.’ And we did, and it was great.”
With the development of Hitch 2 creating buzz among fans and industry insiders, moviegoers are eagerly awaiting to see how the beloved franchise will evolve and what new comedic endeavors will emerge under Smith’s leadership. The backdrop of past trials and triumphs suggests it’s sure to be another wild ride.