Whereas the Will Smith-led romantic comedy “Hitch” could seem easygoing, making it was something however, the director revealed this week.
Andy Tennant, who had simply directed the 2002 Reese Witherspoon traditional rom-com “Candy Residence Alabama,” instructed Enterprise Insider this week he and Smith always butted heads whereas they had been in pre-production for 2005’s “Hitch.”
“I did not need low-cost jokes, however he did not belief me,” Tennant instructed the outlet in an interview printed Wednesday.
“We had our difficulties. The film I needed to make and the film Will needed to make — neither a type of films is nearly as good because the film we made collectively. It was a battle.”
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Whereas the Will Smith-led romantic comedy “Hitch” could seem easygoing, making it was something however, the director revealed this week. (Stephane Cardinale/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs)
He instructed the outlet that, three days earlier than they had been scheduled to begin capturing the film, Smith tried to close it down so he might hold engaged on the script.
“I believe there was quite a lot of concern doing a giant, costly romantic comedy with Will,” Tennant admitted. “It was fraught with peril. Will tried to again out three days earlier than we began capturing. He needed to close down and work on it some extra. It was insanity.”
However the “Ever After” director stated as soon as they began capturing “Hitch,” “it was a bunch of fine artistic folks doing one of the best they may. There have been some debates, however there have been issues that turned out actually humorous. You retain all of the actually enjoyable stuff, you might have a great film. However it was a wild journey.”
At one level earlier than capturing began, he stated, Smith approached him with a draft of the script that he didn’t love.
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“There was a draft that Will introduced in that I used to be not a fan of,” Tennant stated. “I lastly instructed the studio that I used to be extra afraid of Will making that model of the film than I used to be about them firing me. As a result of I knew they had been proper on the sting of firing me earlier than we even started capturing. And, to Will’s credit score, we did not go along with that draft. I do not suppose I used to be ever in anybody’s favor.”
Will Smith and Eva Mendes filming the jet ski scene from “Hitch.” (Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic)
Tennant additionally credited co-star Kevin James with convincing Smith to do the film’s scene through which the 2 males have an unintentional kiss whereas Smith’s courting coach character is telling James go a lot of the means for a kiss with the woman he likes.
The crew inadvertently ended up on the doorstep of Sarah Jessica Parker’s New York brownstone, and he or she allow them to shoot there for a scene that was not initially within the script.
“Will began saying stuff in regards to the 90 and 10: a person goes 90% of the best way, and the lady goes 10% on a primary kiss,” Tennant stated of the impromptu scene. “So, we messed with that for a bit, after which somebody got here up with the keys jingling. Then Kevin was riffing on some stuff. It was all simply an concept.”
Will Smith and Andy Tennant with the remainder of the forged of “Hitch,” together with Amber Valletta, Eva Mendes and Kevin James. (Stephane Cardinale/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs)
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Tennant stated he wrote the scene on the fly with one of many producers that afternoon, however “Will was nonetheless apprehensive in regards to the scene. Kevin James instructed him, ‘It is actually humorous. It’ll be a great scene.’ And, thank God for Kevin, as a result of he bought Will to shoot it.’
“That scene is 5½ pages lengthy, written on that day. It is among the best scenes within the film,” he stated. “We shot a 5½-page scene in three hours after which went to dinner with Amy Pascal.”
Pascal was the chairman of Sony on the time.
Tennant stated Smith additionally didn’t wish to do the movie’s Ellis Island scene through which Smith’s character takes Eva Mendes to the historic location to point out her some details about her ancestor who immigrated to the U.S.
Will Smith with Tennant and the forged of “Hitch.” (John MacDougall/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
“Will did not wish to do it as a result of he stated Black folks did not come by way of Ellis Island,” Tennant defined. “I begged him to come back out to Ellis Island so I might at the least pitch it. It was me, Will, a few of the manufacturing folks, and Will’s producing associate, James Lassiter, who’s his greatest buddy. So, I am making an attempt to save lots of the sequence, and, lo and behold, we discover out that James’ household got here by way of Ellis Island. So, that is why that scene is within the film.”
He stated Smith was a terrific sport in regards to the sequence when he has to leap within the water after his character by chance kicks Mendes off her jet ski — although Smith didn’t know swim.
“The opposite factor everybody was apprehensive about was that Will cannot swim, in order that they did not wish to put a $20 million film star within the water. And Will was like, ‘No, simply give me the life vest,’” he stated.
“We had our difficulties. The film I needed to make and the film Will needed to make — neither a type of films is nearly as good because the film we made collectively. It was a battle.”
He stated once they wrapped Smith didn’t say goodbye to him.
“I believe he felt the identical means I did. He thought this film is a catastrophe,” he stated. “We wrapped, and it was miserable.”
However they had been each mistaken.
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“After we noticed it for the primary time, it was with a take a look at screening in Vegas, and I had Will Smith to my left and Amy Pascal to my proper, which was a horrifying place to be,” Tennant admitted. “The film ends, and the viewers has fully embraced the film. Individuals had been cheering when the film ended.”
Will Smith in a scene from “Hitch” after he falls off the highest of Eva Mendes’ automobile whereas professing his like to her as she tries to drive away from him. (Ian Wingfield/Getty Photographs)
He stated Pascal turned to him and stated, “‘You are performed. Field it and ship it.’ That was our first and final take a look at screening. We examined larger than some other film that they had on the time. It was nuts.”
The film ended up making $371 million worldwide.
Tennant stated he doesn’t maintain a grudge.
“I haven’t got something towards Will,” he pressured. “He employed me to make this film. It was not a straightforward job for anyone, however we went around the globe with the film. Even the laborious instances he’d at all times say, ‘Wait till the junket. We’re gonna go around the globe with this.’ And we did, and it was nice. It was probably the most superb journey I had ever been on.
“And when it was over, my time with Will was over. That was it. And I’ve by no means heard from him since.”
“The Bounty Hunter” director stated he additionally had an concept for a “Hitch” sequel however came upon that Smith was planning his personal with out him.
“I submitted a proposal for a sequel, which was fairly enjoyable, however I suppose Will is growing a ‘Hitch’ sequel with out me,” he stated. “I simply came upon about it three months in the past. I had a very good concept for a sequel, and I used to be speaking to an govt at Sony, and he stated Will’s manufacturing firm is growing a sequel. Hey, that’s Hollywood.”
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Fox Information Digital has reached out to reps for Smith for remark.
