Will Smith Tried to Back Out of 'Hitch' 3 Days Before Filming, Director Reveals Issues Getting Movie Made

Will Smith tried to quit Hitch just days before filming started!

The 56-year-old actor starred in and produced the 2005 rom-com, alongside co-stars Kevin James, Eva Mendes, Amber Valletta and more.

However, director Andy Tennant, who also helmed Sweet Home Alabama, recently revealed that the movie had a rough start during pre-production, including clashes with Will.

Keep reading to find out more…

Andy shared with Business Insider that he was sent the script after another movie failed to get off the ground, and the next day he met with Will.

“But, like a lot of scripts, it needed a whole lot of work, but the concept was great,” he dished. “I think my main contribution to the early conversations with Will was about Hitch not being a misogynist.”

“But we had our difficulties. 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,” Andy added. “[Smith's wife] Jada [Pinkett Smith] was a big help. She kind of seconded some of my instincts. There was a time during prep when I was pushing back. A lot of crazy sh-t that was happening.”

What was going on?

The filmmaker shared, “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. Because I knew they were right on the edge of firing me before we even began shooting. And to Will‘s credit, we didn’t go with that draft. I don’t think I was ever in anyone’s favor.”

He then revealed doing a rom-com with Will Smith was a gamble, and Will tried to back out of the project!

“This was all in prep. I think there was a lot of fear doing a big, expensive romantic comedy with Will. It was fraught with peril,” Andy said. ” Will tried to back out three days before we started shooting. He wanted to shut down and work on it some more. It was madness.”

However, “Once we started filming, it was a bunch of good creative people doing the best they could. There were some debates but there were things that turned out really funny. You keep all the really fun stuff you have a good movie, but it was a wild ride.”

Andy also revealed that he had an idea for a sequel, but recently found out Will‘s production company was already developing one.

“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 dished. “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.”

“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. 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,” Andy concluded. “And when it was over, my time with Will was over. That was it. And I have never heard from him since.”

Recently, Will has been returning to his music roots. Earlier this year, he dropped his “Beautiful Scars” music video and announced his first new album in 20 years.

Just a couple weeks ago, Will stepped out for the 2025 Grammys, where he took part in the Quincy Jones tribute.