Maya Erskine, set to star as Jane Smith in the upcoming Prime Video series adaptation of the iconic film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, recently opened up about the challenges and anxiety she faced stepping into a role once portrayed by Angelina Jolie. Based on Doug Liman’s 2005 film, the series centers around two spies posing as a married couple.
Liman’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith is widely regarded as an iconic movie, known for its captivating premise and the electrifying chemistry between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Fans of the original film have expressed skepticism about the series and how the new cast will bring these iconic characters to life. Erskine, who stars alongside Donald Glover, reflected on taking on the role amid high expectations in a recent interview with The Guardian.
Maya Erskine Opened Up About Taking on the Role of Jane Smith
The star of the upcoming Prime Video series Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Maya Erskine, acknowledged the pressure of following in the footsteps of one of the world’s most beautiful women in a recent interview with The Guardian. She shared the discomfort and pressure she felt on taking on the role of Jane Smith, saying,
“I’d given birth the year before, I hadn’t exercised and I wasn’t really taking care of my body—You look at Angelina Jolie in the film and she’s a total goddess, and I was thinking: ‘Well, I can’t be her.’”
The 36-year-old actress, however, decided to confront these insecurities. She shared that although she was anxious, she emphasized the need to embrace herself. Erskine further shared that she was not willing to subject herself to some extreme measures to fit into the unrealistic standards set for women.
“These were not helpful thoughts, so I really had to accept that I was going to be a real woman,” she shared. The actress further said that although she may not adopt an image like Angelina Jolie, she has decided to redefine and celebrate her unique form of sensuality.
Maya Erskine Claimed the Series is Different From the Original Movie
The 2005 film starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt follows a boring couple who later learn that they are assassins from competitive agencies on a mission to kill each other. However, Maya Erskine has shared that the upcoming series is quite different from the 2005 film.
“I feel like this show could be called anything, and it would still be its own show,” Erskine told Complex in an interview before adding, “That’s the thing, it doesn’t have to be called Mr. & Mrs. Smith, it could be anything.” The series is also claimed to be different in many more ways, as it is expected to feature the couple working together, unaware of who they are really working for in the show.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is set to release on 2 February 2024.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) is available to stream on Hulu.
