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In a candid revelation that has left fans reeling, Donald Glover has peeled back the curtain on his professional “divorce” from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, his original co-star in Amazon’s highly-anticipated reboot of Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The revelation comes as the series makes its much-anticipated debut, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded during its tumultuous development.
Waller-Bridge’s departure from the project in 2021, just seven months into development, sent shockwaves through Hollywood. Described as an “amicable split,” the decision was reportedly driven by creative differences between the Fleabag creator and Glover, who was co-creating the series alongside Francesca Sloane, his onetime collaborator from Atlanta. The void left by Waller-Bridge was eventually filled by PEN15’s Maya Erskine, but the fallout from her exit continues to reverberate.
In a revealing interview, Glover likened their creative split to “a divorce,” lamenting the missed opportunity for their collaboration to flourish. “You’re like, ‘Oh s–t, this should have worked,'” Glover confessed, reflecting on the disappointment of their failed partnership. He attributed the rift to their differing creative visions and cultural backgrounds, noting the contrasting approaches to collaborative work in the UK and the US.
Glover elaborated on the cultural differences that may have contributed to their inability to find common ground, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the writers’ room on Atlanta compared to Waller-Bridge’s solitary approach to writing Fleabag. The clash of creative methodologies, Glover suggests, ultimately proved insurmountable for their partnership.
Despite the acrimonious split, Glover expressed a sense of closure and acceptance, acknowledging the inevitability of their parting ways. “It’s like a real divorce,” Glover mused, grappling with the complexities of ending a creative partnership that held so much promise. He wrestled with the decision to call it quits, recognizing the investment of time and effort from both parties.
As Glover reflects on the demise of his collaboration with Waller-Bridge, the lingering question remains: who gets to keep the creative legacy they built together? With Mr. & Mrs. Smith now taking its place in the spotlight, audiences are left to ponder the “what ifs” and “could have beens” of a partnership that promised so much but ultimately fell short of its potential.
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