Creative Clash: Donald Glover, Phoebe Waller-Bridge casting change
Creative Clash: Donald Glover, Phoebe Waller-Bridge casting change. The cast change, with Maya Erskine taking over the role originally intended for Waller-Bridge, marked a new chapter in the show’s development.
By Staff
The Mr. and Mrs.Smith series has received a lot of attention since its announcement, especially starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine.
However, one detail that has captured the curiosity of fans is the casting change that took place before production.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge was initially announced to star alongside Glover, but she subsequently withdrew from the project and was replaced by Erskine.
Now, Glover has offered more details about the circumstances surrounding this change, revealing a conflict of egos between him and Waller-Bridge.
Why did Phoebe Waller-Bridge leave the Mr. and Mrs. Smith series?
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via The Playlist), Donald Glover shared his perspective on the situation, comparing it to a creative “divorce.
According to Glover, he and Waller-Bridge faced difficulties finding common ground in the series’ development process.
He noted that differences in culture and creative approach could have contributed to the conflict, highlighting the different writing dynamics between the British and American projects.
Glover highlighted that she was in charge of the series Fleabag, while her series Atlanta was a more collaborative production: “You have to consider that ‘Fleabag’ was entirely written by her; in the UK, there are actually no writers’ rooms.”
And I look back at ‘Atlanta,’ and we built a culture where we could say bad things to each other or say, ‘That idea is kind of [trash],’ and then we’d laugh.
You weren’t afraid to say something, but we also had the right to tear you down. ‘That’s how we laugh.'”
“I don’t think we ever felt comfortable enough with each other. And that’s fine. That’s what happens when there are two captains. It’s like, ‘This is how I steer my ship.’
‘Well, that’s how I run my ship,'” Glover noted, “And it’s such a big idea, this show, that I don’t think it can have two captains.”
The actor also revealed that Waller-Bridge made significant changes to the series’ original script, which led to disagreements over the tone and direction of the project.
Although Glover recognized Waller-Bridge’s talent, he expressed that the series was straying too far from his initial vision, which ultimately led to the mutual decision to part ways professionally.
The casting change, with Maya Erskine taking over the role originally intended for Waller-Bridge, marked a new chapter in the development of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Despite the challenges faced during pre-production, Glover expressed confidence in the current team and the future direction of the series.
The series Mr. & Mrs. Smith is currently available on Prime Video, offering viewers an intriguing mix of romance, comedy, and action in a new television format.
