Amazon’s reboot of the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie movieMr. and Mrs. Smithhas suffered a setback as female lead Phoebe Waller-Bridge has left the series, citing creative differences with co-star Donald Glover as the reason for the departure. The new series based on the 2005 comedy thriller was given a straight to series order by the streaming giant, and although the hunt is now on for a new lead to step into the role, the production is still expecting to be ready for its planned release next year.
Donald Gloveroriginally pitched the idea of remaking the movie to Waller-Bridge, who he appeared with inSolo: A Star Wars Story, and he is still on board the project as star and executive producer, while Francesca Sloane, who previously worked onAtlantawith Glover, stays on the project as showrunner and executive producer as part of her Amazon deal. According to sources, the split between Waller-Bridge, who has recently been filming with Harrison Ford forIndiana Jones 5, and Glover is an amicable one and the pair still remain friends, but there were just things about the project that they couldn’t work out.
TheMr. and Mrs. Smith TV Showis one of the first projects in Glover’s deal with Amazon, which he signed back in February. While the announcement of the series a few months ago really had people excited, it looks like writing on the series is already well underway and overall it will still be going ahead, just without Waller-Bridge.
Despite the parting of ways, both parties have a lot of upcoming projects still in progress withAmazonunder their various deals, so even though they won’t be working together, they will both be bringing content to Amazon in future. Glover is linked to a new series calledHive, which “centers on a Beyonce-style character” and comes fromWatchmenwriter Janine Nabers with Malia Obama being said to have been recruited to the writers room for the project. In addition to that, Glover is also currently in postproduction onAtlanta’s third season for FX and writing the fourth season at the same time. Both of those seasons are potentially going to arrive next year too, making it a pretty busy year for the actor.
In addition to her starring role inIndiana Jones 5,Phoebe Waller-Bridgehas recently had a hand in contributing to the script of Daniel Craig’s final James Bond outing,No Time To Die, and acts as executive producer on the final season ofKilling Eve. TheFleabagstar signed a deal with Amazon back in 2019 to create new content for the platform just two days after she picked up acting and writing Emmy Awards, andFleabagin total picked up six awards. “I’m insanely excited to be continuing my relationship with Amazon,” Waller-Bridge said at the time. “Working with the team on Fleabag was the creative partnership dreams are made of. It really feels like home. I can’t wait to get going!”
There will no doubt be more news on the progress of Waller-Bridge’s recasting onMr & Mrs Smithsoon. This news first appeared atDeadline.
