Andy Tennant and Will Smith in 2005.Photo:Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty
Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty
The director ofWill Smith’s romantic comedyHitchclaims he had creative clashes with the Oscar-winning star.
Andy Tennant, also known for directing rom-coms likeFool’s GoldandSweet Home Alabama, said in an interview surrounding the film’s 20th anniversarywith Business Insiderthat he and Smith, 56, “had our difficulties” during production.
“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,” said Tennant.
According to the filmmaker, Smith’s wifeJada Pinkett Smithwas a “big help” in smoothing over the conflicts: “She kind of seconded some of my instincts. There was a time during prep when I was pushing back. A lot of crazy s— that was happening.”
Tennant, 69, said he felt like the studio was “right on the edge of firing me before we even began shooting” as he was vocal about disagreeing with Smith’s vision for the rom-com, which also starredKevin JamesandEva Mendes.
Andy Tennant, Will Smith and Kevin James behind the scenes of “Hitch”.Barry Wetcher/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
Barry Wetcher/Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock
“Crazy story ideas. 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,” said the director.
The process was “fraught with peril,” as Tennant put it, also calling it “madness” and a “wild ride.”
BeforeHitchturned out to be a beloved hit upon its release in 2005, Tennant said he and Smith feared it would be a “disaster” and ended filming on not-good terms.
Tennant told Business Insider he found out three months ago that Smith is developing aHitchsequel through his production company “without me.”
Will Smith and Eva Mendes in “Hitch”.Columbia Pictures
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I don’t have anything against Will. He hired me to make this movie. It was not an easy job for anybody, but we went around the world with the movie,” Tennant told the outlet.
“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. It was the most amazing trip I had ever been on. And when it was over, my time with Will was over. That was it. And I have never heard from him since.”
On Instagram Feb. 11, Smith commemoratedHitch’s anniversary with a post in which he tagged James, Mendes, Amber Valletta and Tennant.
“Hitch came out 20 years ago TODAY!! Shoutout @kevinjamesofficial, @evamendes, @ambervalletta, @therealandytennant,“wroteSmith. “feels like yesterday - can’t believe we’re two decades down!!”
source: people.com
