The 2005 action-comedy film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, was a box office hit that captured the imagination of audiences worldwide. But behind the scenes, the production faced numerous challenges, including scheduling conflicts, logistical issues, and controversy over the film’s portrayal of Bogotá, Colombia.
Before filming began, Pitt was originally slated to star alongside Nicole Kidman, but she had to bow out due to a scheduling conflict. The role eventually went to Angelina Jolie, who had a tumultuous romance with Pitt during filming. Their on-screen chemistry and off-screen romance fueled the pop-culture frenzy surrounding the film.
The production of Mr. & Mrs. Smith was also plagued by logistical issues. The film’s director, Doug Liman, had to deal with an initial month-long delay due to set-building issues and subsequent scheduling changes. Pitt’s prior injury and his later commitment to Ocean’s Twelve forced the production to stop and restart multiple times, resulting in a ballooning budget.
Brad Pitt (Via IMDB)
The film’s international reputation was also marred by controversy when the Colombian government criticized the film’s portrayal of Bogotá as “backward” and “chaotic.” Enrique Borda, the general secretary of the Bogotá Mayor’s Office at the time, wrote a letter to Liman expressing his disappointment and inviting the director to see the city in a more positive light.
Despite these challenges, the film’s success can be attributed to Pitt and Jolie’s chemistry on screen and the entertaining action-comedy plot. The film’s pop-culture relevance was further boosted by the couple’s real-life romance, which captured the attention of the media and the public.
The making of Mr. & Mrs. Smith was a complex and challenging process, marked by logistical issues, controversy, and on-screen romance. The film’s success, however, lies in its ability to entertain audiences while exploring themes of relationships, identity, and the human condition.
