Mr. and Mrs. Smith Screenwriter Talks Tabloids

Posted on June 6, 2005

Unless you've been living in Antarctica, you've no doubt heard some of the gossip about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. But if you're the screenwriter for their upcoming film Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the nonstop tabloid gossip is actually pretty worrying. The Daily News says filmmaker Doug Liman is worried whether or not the stars tabloid romance will overshadow the movie. Will it help the film, hurt it or make no difference on the outcome?

"There are those who think it's the worst news on the planet; others think it's fantastic," says Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, one of Smith's many producers. "Me, I think it's neither. It's just vaguely hurtful to those involved."
Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan made tabloid headlines when their on-screen romance in the thriller Proof of Life spilled off-screen. But after testing the film, director Taylor Hackford actually cut a couple of their love scenes - including one that was featured in the trailer - when audiences reacted with a collective groan. The movie fizzled, as did the real-life romance.
"The tabloids have a field day, but by the time the movie is released, the story has played itself out," says commentator David Poland, who runs the Movie City News Web site. "Then it becomes a question of: Is the movie any good?"

The Daily News also talked to Kevin Smith who saw Jersey Girl derailed in the wake of tabloid news buzzing about starts Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Smith says, "Post-Gigli, it was hard to convince anyone to give us a chance. First, you had the fallout from a movie you had nothing to do with. Then there's the whole 'Bennifer' thing. That's a big shadow - a big, big shadow.."

So will Mr. and Mrs. Smith bomb? Be a hit? The film hits theaters June 10th. The screenwriter will sweat it out until the weekend tallies are in.