Hitch is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, a significant milestone that showcases its lasting impact on the romantic comedy genre. In a recent interview with Business Insider, director Andy Tennant shared insights into the challenges faced during the film’s production. He noted that the creative vision he held differed greatly from that of Will Smith, leading to tensions that almost derailed the project. In a surprising twist, Smith considered abandoning the film just three days before shooting was scheduled to begin, highlighting the intense pressure both the actor and the director experienced.

?We had our difficulties,? said Tennant. ?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. [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 on a lot of crazy shit that was happening.?

Tennant further elaborated, ?There was a lot of fear doing a big, expensive romantic comedy with Will. It was fraught with peril. 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.? In Hitch, Smith portrays a professional matchmaker who uses his expertise to help men win over women but finds himself challenged when he falls for someone who seems immune to his charms. The film also features performances from Eva Mendes, Kevin James, and Amber Valletta, each adding layers to the story.

The creative differences between Tennant and Smith were evident from the early stages of script development. ?There was a draft that Will brought in that I was not a fan of,? Tennant stated. ?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.?

Despite the tumultuous production, Hitch emerged as a significant cultural and financial success, grossing over $370 million globally. Although Tennant had envisioned a sequel two decades ago, it never materialized. Recently, he learned that Smith is pursuing a Hitch sequel without his involvement. ?But I guess Will is developing a Hitch sequel without me,? Tennant shared. ?I just found out about it three months ago. 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.?

Despite these developments, Tennant expressed no hard feelings towards Smith. ?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 recounted. ?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.?