Tweet

A quick poll of folks around the Reject HQ offices this morning shows that no one thinks that rebooting Mr. and Mrs. Smith is a good idea. That was to be expected. I’m the only one here at the moment and I think it’s probably the dumbest idea I’ve seen since about an hour ago. However, I’m willing to give this story a shot. Lets check out the details.

Vulture is reporting that writer/producer Akiva Goldsman (I Am Legend, Hancock) is attached to produce the film, which is being set up at Fox’s Regency Enterprises. This newly planned restart will not have the same stars, which means that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are out. It will also not even include the same characters, but rather a new (but similar) couple. This couple’s story will show “how a pair of twentysomething spies are set up as a fake married couple when they graduate agency training.”

Why are we calling this a reboot of Mr. and Mrs. Smith again? It sounds quite different. Vulture nails the explanation: “One of the root rationales behind Hollywood’s reboot fever is that by ditching pricey talent but extending popular name-brand franchises, they get the best of both worlds: a title people know and like, with stars they can afford (i.e., Star Trek).”

So there you have it. It’s cheaper and more profitable to remake a property with young, unsung actors and stick them in a movie that has a recognizable brand. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, no matter how “lame” it might seem. Until talent is attached to this project (director, writer, actors), I’m reserving full-on judgment. For now, it just sounds like it could be a bad idea.