LONDON: The dynamic duo of assassins, featured in the popular film ‘Mr & Mrs Smith,’ are making a comeback in a fresh television reboot, spearheaded by actor and musician Donald Glover and writer Francesca Sloane. Crafting an eight-episode series, this rendition reimagines the iconic characters portrayed by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie almost two decades ago.
Speaking at the London premiere, Glover emphasized that the series shares similarities with the movie, but it diverges significantly. He elaborated on the unique setup, stating that the dynamics are different. We now have ample time to explore various aspects.
Maintaining the original title ‘Mr & Mrs Smith,’ the show introduces two outsiders, played by Glover and actress Maya Erskine, who engage in an unconventional selection process to secure positions at an international spy agency. The narrative unfolds as they form a cover marriage while navigating the challenges of their espionage-laden lives.
Renamed as John and Jane Smith, the duo must persuade their new bosses of their espionage prowess, all the while adjusting to the challenge of integrating a stranger into their daily routines.
“I guess I just wanted to make a show about relationships because I think I’ve entered into a time in my life where it’s like, oh, more relationship talk, so it was fun to do that,” said Glover, 40, who releases music under the name Childish Gambino.
Prior to the premiere of the series, showrunner Sloane crafted an open letter addressing “internet trolls” who raised doubts about the necessity of the remake.
“I wanted to be very realistic about the fact that we understood where they were coming from,” she said.
“There are 10 billion remakes out there, but we really tried to make something different.”
Navigating missions set in luxurious locales such as Lake Como and the Dolomites, the Smiths discover a burgeoning connection, realizing that maintaining relationships and marriages often demands more dedication than their covert operations. Sloane, the show’s writer, revealed that the writing team sought inspiration from both 70s films and contemporary reality TV.
