Hitch Director Shares Secrets on Will Smith Feud and Lost Sequel

The director of Hitch, Andy Tennant, recently shared insights into the making of the 2005 romantic-comedy. In a new interview with Business Insider, Tennant revealed tensions with lead actor Will Smith during production.

Tennant admitted they had creative differences, especially when it came to the film’s tone. “I didn’t want cheap jokes, but he didn’t trust me,” Tennant explained.

The two had opposing visions for the movie, but they eventually found common ground. Tennant credited Jada Pinkett Smith for helping mediate between them.

Hitch, which starred Smith as a professional “date doctor” helping men impress women, was a commercial and critical success, grossing $371.6 million globally.

Tennant reflected on some of the challenges in getting the movie made, especially during the development phase. He described disagreements over story ideas, noting that Smith brought in a draft he didn’t support. Despite the tension, the final version of Hitch was a hit.

Tennant also revealed that he had proposed a sequel to Hitch after the film’s success. However, Hitch 2 never materialized. “I guess Will is developing a ‘Hitch’ sequel without me,” Tennant shared, after learning that Smith’s production company is working on it.

Despite their differences, Tennant holds no ill will toward Smith. He recalled the global promotional tour they did for the movie, which he described as an unforgettable experience. Tennant has not been in contact with Smith since then.

Business Insider‘s full interview with Tennant offers more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Hitch.