‘Hitch’ Director Recalls Filming With Will Smith Was “A Battle,” Only Found Out a Sequel Is in the Works “Three Months Ago”

Andy Tennant is looking back on his 2005 film, Hitch, with less than fond memories.

Tennant, who directed the rom-com that stars Will Smith, Kevin James and Eva Mendes, and which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, recently told Business Insider about how he had disagreements and didn’t get along with the movie’s lead, Smith. According to Tennant, the two did not see eye to eye on drafts and the film’s direction. So much so that Smith wanted out just a few days before filming began.

“Will tried to back out three days before we started shooting. He wanted to shut down and work on it some more,” Tennant said.

“We had our difficulties,” the director said. “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.”

Elsewhere, he explained how Smith needed to be convinced to work on notable moments in the film, like the doorstep scene with him and James and the Ellis Island scene. They also conflicted on jokes. However, Tennant mentions a time when they agreed, namely the iconic dance scene where Hitch (Smith) teaches Albert (James) how to dance.

The Fool’s Gold director mentioned how Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett, was “a big help” to him during the process and even “seconded” some of his “instincts.”

However, when Hitch finished shooting, “Will walked off the set, didn’t say goodbye to me, didn’t say anything, he just left,” Tennant said before adding how the Oscar winner “thought this movie is a disaster” as Tennant did.

He added: “When it was over, my time with Will was over … I have never heard from him since.” 

The film succeeded, earned over $370 million at the global box office and became an enduring hit with audiences.

A sequel to the 20-year-old comedy is apparently in progress, which Tennant reveals he only recently found out. “I submitted a proposal for a sequel, which was quite fun, but I guess Will is developing a Hitch sequel without me. I just found out about it three months ago,” he said. “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. Hey, that’s Hollywood.”

Although Smith is seemingly moving forward on the project without him, Tennant insists he doesn’t “have anything against” the actor. “He hired me to make this movie,” he said. “It was not an easy job for anybody.”