Movies

A Star Trek legend beat Brad Pitt and Donald Glover to the punch decades earlier

BBG News

As a seasoned gamer of the silver screen, I find myself often entangled in the intricate web of cinematic history and trivia. The tale of Brad Pitt and Donald Glover‘s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” is one that has captivated me for quite some time. However, little did I know that they weren’t the first ones to dance this particular tango – that honor goes to none other than Scott Bakula!

It can be challenging to claim priority in a discussion that involves both Brad Pitt and Donald Glover, two highly influential figures from different generations who are often admired for their talent and charm. Their resumes span films, television shows, and, uniquely for Glover, music. However, when it comes to their most prominent collaborations, such as “Atlanta” or “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, neither can lay claim to being the initial participant in these projects.

Correct, concerning that specific project, it had actually been preceded by several years due to Scott Bakula’s involvement in Star Trek: Enterprise. You got it right; the original Mr. and Mrs. Smith idea wasn’t just a role for Bakula but was also developed by his production company.

The premise of both the original movie and subsequent Amazon series revolved around two secret agents who were unaware of each other’s true identities, eventually getting married and living a seemingly ordinary life together. However, their peaceful existence was shattered when one day, everything they believed about each other was turned upside down, as their secrets were exposed. This concept was intriguing in 2005 when it starred Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Despite the Glover-led remake having some strong points, it failed to create the same cultural impact that the original movie did.

Still, his outing was arguably better than Bakula’s. He starred in the show in 1996, nine years before Pitt, alongside Maria Bello. Unlike Pitt’s version, Bakula’s version didn’t feature the two agents at each other’s throats despite being married. They were paired together, with the hitch being that neither could share information about themselves with the other from before their initial pairing. Everything they were or had been through was a dead memory and couldn’t be revealed.

In this case, their alliance is similar to what’s depicted in Glover’s version, where they find themselves on the same side due to external pressures from their respective organizations. The Glover version has a more intense dramatic feel, but the underlying idea present in the Bakula version also applies here.

The interesting thing is that the original version of the spy vs. spy concept is rarely ever mentioned alongside its more modern contemporaries. Considering the Glover version seemingly recreates the Bakula version nearly beat for beat in concept, you’d think that the original would get some love. What may be holding it back from getting recognition however may be as simple as who’s involved.

It seems that the initial project involves three different production studios: Bakula Productions, Page Two Productions, and Warner Bros. Television. However, both the 2005 film starring Pitt and the Glover series were produced by New Regency. This is probably the reason for the difference.

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2024-08-15 16:23

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