Behind the Scenes of 'Hitch': Andy Tennant and Will Smith's Tumultuous Collaboration

In a series of candid interviews with Business Insider, director Andy Tennant broke his silence on the behind-the-scenes challenges he faced while working with Will Smith on the hit 2005 romantic comedy, 'Hitch'. Tennant shared that despite the film's eventual success, the journey to get there was fraught with creative disagreements and tense moments.

The film, which starred Smith as the charming "date doctor" Alex "Hitch" Hitchens alongside Eva Mendes, was a box office sensation, grossing over $370 million worldwide. However, Tennant revealed that the process was anything but smooth. "We had our difficulties", he admitted. "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 described the experience as a "wild ride", citing constant script changes and creative conflicts with Smith, particularly around the film's tone and humor. "I didn't want cheap jokes, but he didn't trust me", Tennant recalled. The director also noted that just three days before filming, Smith wanted to shut down production to further develop the script, which Tennant saw as problematic.

Compounding the stress was a draft of the script that Smith brought in, which Tennant was vehemently opposed to. "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", Tennant confessed. Ultimately, Tennant credited Jada Pinkett Smith, Will's wife, for being instrumental in keeping the peace and supporting his vision for the film.

Despite the tensions, both Tennant and Smith were committed to making the film work. "It was a bunch of good creative people doing the best they could", Tennant said. In a spontaneous turn during filming, the now-famous front porch kiss scene between Smith and Kevin James was created on the spot, after they stumbled upon a suitable shooting location—Sarah Jessica Parker's doorstep—purely by chance.

The filming wrapped on a grim note, with Tennant and Smith both feeling they'd potentially destroyed their careers. "I swear to God, when we wrapped that movie, I called my wife and said, 'I've just ruined my career, and I've ruined Will Smith's career,'" Tennant lamented.

However, the tides turned when early screenings revealed audiences loved the film, leading to one of the most successful romantic comedy openings at the time. "The movie ends and the audience has completely embraced the movie", Tennant remembered from a test screening, while recalling the relief and validation he felt.

Despite their successful collaboration, Tennant and Smith have not spoken since the promotional tour wrapped. Tennant has no hard feelings, stating, "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". He acknowledged that Smith is now working on a sequel to 'Hitch', separate from Tennant's involvement.

The behind-the-scenes saga of 'Hitch' serves as a testament to the complexities of the creative process, where tension and differing visions can sometimes lead to unexpected success.