Mr. & Mrs. Smithis coming to Prime Video, but not in the format viewers would expect. The 2005 cult classic starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt is being remade as a television series for Prime. The new series is being co-created by Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane. Glover himself and Maya Erskine are taking on the lead roles in the project. The duo will portray the titular spy couple Jane and John Smith, whom Jolie and Pitt originally played.
Despite using the same title as the 2005 version, Prime Video’sMr. & Mrs. Smithpromises to do things differently. As per the recently released trailer and official synopsis of the series, it is evident that the remake will not follow the exact footprints of its predecessor. The decision to deviate from the narrative of the original while still tying into elements that are familiar to viewers may work in favor of the remake by allowing it to have its own identity. With the series expected todebut in February, there is a lot that Prime Video’sMr. & Mrs. Smithneeds to get right if it hopes to be as successful as the 2005 cult classic.
The Original Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’sMr. & Mrs. Smith,which debuted in 2005, was a hit among viewers and a box office success, grossing $487 million worldwide. The success of the film was largely attributed to the palpable chemistry between the leading duo, Jolie and Pitt. The 2005 film centers on a married couple who, unknown to each other, work as assassins. The two are in for a rude awakening when they learn each other’s true identities and that they’ve been assigned to kill each other.
The chemistry between Jolie and Pitt, the humor woven into the narrative, and the action-packed plot ofMr. & Mrs. Smithpropelled the 2005 film to success. The movie was cemented as a cult classic when the real-life relationship between Jolie and Pitt, soon nicknamed Brangelina, was revealed. The couple went public with their relationship a month after the premiere ofMr. & Mrs. Smith, with Pitt having separated from his then-wife Jennifer Aniston, and remained together till 2016, when they filed for divorce. The hype and publicity surrounding the duo’s relationship ensured that the film that started it all attracted tons of attention and made the action-comedy stand out, contributing to its legacy.
What Will Being a Series Mean for the Mr. & Mrs. Smith Remake?
TheMr. & Mrs. Smithremake driven by Glover is not the first time an attempt has been made to bring the film to screens as a series. In 2007, riding on the success of the movie, an attempt was made to convert the film into a series for ABC. The lead characters were to be played by Jordana Brewster and Martin Henderson, with the writer and director of the original movie reprising their roles. However, the series never moved further than an unsold pilot. A lack of charisma compared to the 2005 film wascited for the failure.
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With one failed attempt already existing, expectations remain high asGlover breathes new life intoMr. & Mrs. Smith.However, the decision of the show’s creators to re-imagine the original as a series has its pros. Compared to a film, a series allows for more in-depth character exploration and development while also providing the opportunity for the plot of the story to develop and unravel at a leisurely pace.
Approaching the remake as a series also provides the creative team behind the project a chance to attach a deeper meaning to the narrative of the 2005 film and build where the original fell short in its storytelling. Admittedly, it was the chemistry and relationship between Jolie and Pitt that allowed 2005’sMr. & Mrs. Smithto reach the levels of success it did, with not much weight provided to the plot of the film.
In analyzing 2005’sMr. & Mrs. Smith,it becomes evident that the film does not attempt to convey a deeper meaning through its conclusion or center on heavy themes with a significant impact. This is not to say that the movie is not an entertaining, engaging watch. However, Jolie and Pitt’sMr. & Mrs. Smithis simply an action-packed film with a compelling storyline thanks to the husband and wife’s hidden identities as spies, ultimately pitting them against each other.
The chemistry between the leading duo and the speculation of viewers regarding the relationship between Pitt and Jolie, especially given that Pitt was already married at the time of filming, greatly added to the allure of the film. Masking itself behind this chemistry and the hype already created by fans, the movie did not explore the heavier themes of marriage and relationships and the effort needed to make them work. This shortcoming is something that Glover and Erskine’s version can rectify, adding more meaning to the plot.
The Mr. & Mrs. Smith Remake Needs an Identity of its Own
The remakehas already established itself as different from the originalMr. & Mrs. Smithplotdue to writer and actor Donald Glover’s expectations for the series. Instead of centering on a couple already in a marriage, Prime Video’s adaptation will follow two spies who are pushed into a marriage for the sake of the job. Given this, Glover and Erskine’s John and Jane will already know each other’s true identities.
In speaking of the series, Glover was clear regarding the identity he wanted to give the series and claimed that the show would weave a story different from the 2005 film. Glover also knew many viewers would compare it to Jolie and Pitt’s film.Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he said:
“It’s definitely going to be different for a lot of people, which I think is good. You can always go back and watch the old one, but this one gives you a different feeling. People are definitely going to be shocked. I just know how much people love the other one, so if everybody’s like, ‘Eh,’ we didn’t do a good job. I hope some people are like, ‘This is better than the original,’ and some people are like, ‘This is far worse.'”
As per Glover, the main intention of the series will be to delve deeper into the approaches to marriages and relationships and explore modern ideas related to them. Thus, the premise of the remake appears to be more serious than that of the original 2005 film. “Let’s make a show dealing with relationships, but from this point of view, centering more on really what a marriage is and trust and teamwork and loneliness and all that stuff,” said Glover. “I just wanted it to be something that spoke to people right now because in a time of abundance, why do we feel lonely? The movie wasn’t about that.”
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With Prime Videos’sMr. & Mrs. Smithsetting itself up to be quite different from the 2005 film, viewers can likely expect a heavier watch with deeper meaning than what the original film offered. However, it is expected that the remake will preserve some of the humor characteristic of the original movie while weaving its narrative. With the legacy created by Jolie and Pitt’sMr. & Mrs. Smith,only time will tell how viewers react to Glover’s re-imagined version.
Season 1 ofMr. & Mrs. Smithwill release all eight episodes on Prime Video on July 23, 2025.
