‘Hitch’ Director Andy Tennant Says Working With Will Smith Was ‘A Battle’

Will Smith’s Hitch might have been a box office success, but according to the film’s director, Andy Tennant, making the 2005 romantic comedy wasn’t as smooth as the final product.

In a new interview with Business Insider, Tennant reflected on creative tensions with Smith during the production, revealing that their visions for the film didn’t initially align. “We had our difficulties,” Tennant 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.”

Tennant also claimed that just three days before filming was set to begin, Smith wanted to delay production.

“He wanted to work on it some more,” the director alleged, explaining that Smith tried to “back out” at the last minute. However, he credited Jada Pinkett Smith for helping mediate the situation, saying, “Jada was a big help. She kind of seconded some of my instincts. There was a time during prep when I was pushing back on a lot of crazy s–t that was happening.”

Despite the reported behind-the-scenes tension, Hitch went on to gross over $370 million worldwide and remains one of Smith’s most popular films. The movie, which starred Smith as a professional “date doctor” helping clients navigate the dating world, also featured Eva Mendes and Kevin James in breakout roles.

Now, two decades later, Smith is reportedly moving forward with a Hitch sequel—but without Tennant. “I just found out about it three months ago,” Tennant 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.” While he didn’t reveal details of his own concept, Tennant acknowledged the situation with a shrug: “Hey, that’s Hollywood.”

Smith has yet to comment on the development of Hitch 2, but the sequel would add to a busy year for the actor. In addition to his return to film, Smith is also preparing to release his first album in over 20 years, Based on a True Story, in March via SLANG Recordings.

The album rollout began last year with “You Can Make It” featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir, which became his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart. It was followed by “Work of Art” with Russ and Jaden Smith, “TANTRUM” with Joyner Lucas, and the latest single, “Beautiful Scars” with Big Sean and featuring Obanga.

Smith described the project as his most personal yet, telling Billboard last month, “I’m more artistic than I’ve ever been, a better actor than I’ve ever been, a better poet than I’ve ever been … I’m going to be better on stage than I’ve ever been. I’m just on fire about this next creative phase of my life and career.”

Smith also revealed that he’s planning to release not one but three albums under the Based on a True Story banner, describing them as “three seasons of a TV musical show.” The first instalment, Rave in the Wasteland, arrives in March and will include songs written in the aftermath of the 2022 Oscars. The second album, The Gift of Madness, is set for June and draws inspiration from a quote by Quincy Jones about artists who “believe impossible s–t can happen.” A third instalment is expected by the end of the year.

As part of his return to music, Smith has already performed two sold-out shows in San Diego and is scheduled to headline France’s Positiv Festival on July 31. He told Billboard, “Getting back out city to city, seeing people and feeling the energy keeps me creatively alive.”