The hit Prime Video series Mr. & Mrs. Smith starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine is reportedly looking for new leads, with rumors swirling about one major celebrity being the primary pick for one of the roles. Released in 2024 as a nine-episode series, the show is based on the 2005 movie of the same name and has since won two Primetime Emmy Awards as well as critical acclaim. In the series, John and Jane are strangers who are recruited by a mysterious spy agency that promises them a lifetime of espionage, thrills, fortune, and free travel. However, there is one major catch: they must assume new identities as a married couple. How will John and Jane work together despite their jarring differences?
While the first season of the Prime Video series starred Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as John Smith and Jane Smith, it is currently unclear if they will return for Season 2, given the jaw-dropping cliffhanger that concluded Season 1. According to Deadline, the show is now actively “seeking an actor and actress in their 20s” to step into the roles for Season 2, and, somewhat surprisingly, music icon Billie Eilish is reportedly the top choice to play Jane.
While Eilish may seem like an ambitious choice, considering her lack of experience in action-packed roles, her talent as a singer-songwriter and her emerging acting abilities have made her a global superstar, and there is no doubt she would be a major boon for the series. In fact, Eilish made her television debut with Swarm in 2023 and nailed her role of Eva despite only appearing in one episode. Of course, it is possible that, considering all the twists and turns inherent in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, that it will simply be a clever fake out.
Why Is Mr. & Mrs. Smith Recasting John & Jane?
At the end of Mr. & Mrs. Smith Season 1, John and Jane find themselves in a perilous shootout. When John seeks to stall for Jane’s escape, the latter fights her way out to save her dying husband. While it was left ambiguous whether they survived, the decision to cast new actors implies they may not have made it. However, bringing in new actors in place of Glover and Erskine also indicates that the Prime Video series is perhaps moving toward an anthology format, which may not sit well with viewers. So, even if the actors do not return for the second season in full capacity, it is possible that they will make an appearance or two to appease the fans who thoroughly enjoyed the first season.
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Furthermore, the new versions of Jane and John are believed to be new characters rather than replacements for Erskine and Glover, confirming the possibility of the series being an anthology. In any case, the creators hadn’t really given much thought about the second season’s script until mid-2024, so hopefully we will get more updates soon. Co-creator Francesca Sloane said earlier this year to EW:
“We didn’t even get to start writing [season 2] yet. Maya and Donald may be dead; they may not be dead. There will be an answer as to what happened at the end of season 1 in season 2.”
Mr. & Mrs. Smith, created by Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane, was commded at the 2024 Emmys, earning 16 nominations and winning two, including Outstanding Guest Actress for Michaela Coel and Outstanding Stunt Coordination for Stephen Pope.