Did Brad Pitt Momentarily Leave Mr. and Mrs. Smith Because of Nicole Kidman?

Did you know that Brad Pitt almost didn’t star in Mr. and Mrs. Smith? The 2005 action-romance film, famous for sparking his relationship with Angelina Jolie, almost didn’t star Pitt due to casting issues. According to IMDb, the actor was initially set to star opposite Nicole Kidman. But when she left the project, even Pitt allegedly decided to walk away. 

Since the film’s future looked uncertain, Brad Pitt reportedly didn’t want to associate himself with the project. So, he momentarily stepped away from Mr. and Mrs. Smith until Angelina Jolie stepped in to replace Kidman, which then convinced Pitt to return. What followed became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about pairings, both on and off the screen. 

The table contains basic details on Mr. and Mrs. Smith:

Despite Being the First Choice, Nicole Kidman Was Never Meant for Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Like we said, Angelina Jolie wasn’t the first choice for Doug Liman’s comedy thriller Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Instead, the movie was supposed to star Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman. The director had planned to bring them together for the spy-action romance, but sadly, things got complicated because of Kidman’s busy schedule. 

The actress was already busy shooting The Stepford Wives, and her schedule didn’t match Brad Pitt’s. Because of these timing issues, she had to drop out of the project, leaving the film without a female lead. After Kidman’s exit, the movie was left hanging. Production got delayed, and Pitt wasn’t sure about staying. 

Interestingly, producer Arnon Milchan once shared that the real reason Kidman didn’t continue might have been a lack of chemistry with Pitt. He told News AU that the pair just didn’t click on-screen, which made the studio search for someone who could match Pitt’s energy. And that someone turned out to be Angelina Jolie. 

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Became the New Power Couple After Doug Liman’s Movie 

After Nicole Kidman’s exit, several other actresses were considered for the lead role, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett, and even Catherine Zeta-Jones. But none of them matched the level of intensity that Angelina Jolie brought to the screen. So, naturally, when the actress joined the cast, everything changed.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith | image: 20th Century Studios

Her on-screen chemistry with Brad Pitt seemed electric and impossible to ignore. Fans instantly noticed their spark, both in the movie and behind the scenes. Eventually, with action scenes and romantic tension, Mr. and Mrs. Smith became a global hit, and it also marked the beginning of Pitt and Jolie’s high-profile relationship. 

After the movie’s release in 2005, Pitt and Jolie’s connection became headline news. The two eventually went public, earning the nickname “Brangelina” and becoming one of the most powerful celebrity couples in the world, until their relationship ended in 2019. And turns out, Nicole Kidman shared her thoughts on this fame and love. 

She told Vanity Fair,

If you really focus on each other and you’re in that bubble, it’s very intoxicating, because it’s just the two of you. And there is only one other person that’s going through it. 

So it brings you very close, and it’s deeply romantic. I’m sure Brad and Angelina have that – because there’s nobody else that understands it except that person who’s sleeping right next to you. 

Having been married to Tom Cruise, Kidman understood the challenges of being in a high-profile relationship. She thus mentioned that such partnerships can be intense but also isolating because no one else truly understands the spotlight pressure. In many ways, her words perfectly described what Jolie and Pitt experienced during their years together.

Do you think Nicole Kidman could deliver the iconic performance like Angelina Jolie in Mr. and Mrs. Smith? Let us know in the comments. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith is currently streaming in the US on Netflix.