Interview: The new Mr. and Mrs. Smith series is "more of a character study" shares showrunner Francesca Sloane

Who's ready for a little bit of action, a little bit of romance, and everything else in between? That's what you're going to get in the new Prime Video series Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The show starring Community and Atlanta actor Donald Glover as John Smith and Maya Erskine as Jane Smith begins streaming all eight episodes Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.

The spy comedy is centered around the two characters who start off as "lonely" strangers. They meet and agree to get married under new identities - John and Jane Smith - to work for a mysterious agency, per the synopsis. In each episode, you can expect to see a new mission for the duo, as well as a "new milestone in their relationship." The series asks, "what's riskier: espionage or marriage?"

Hidden Remote had the opportunity to speak with showrunner Francesca Sloane ahead of the show's premiere to talk about what viewers can look forward to, any easter eggs from the original movie starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and whether there's plans for a second season. Read on (or watch the interview video) below for all the details!

Showrunner talks Mr. and Mrs. Smith on Prime Video

Hidden Remote: What can you tease for the audience and what can they expect going in?

Francesca Sloane: I think they can expect to be surprised. I think it's definitely a departure from the original [Mr. and Mrs. Smith film], but I also think that we do have a lot of great and fun action. There's a lot of stuff for the people who did love the [Mr. and Mrs. Smith] movie that's still there in our version. But I definitely think people can expect to be surprised. It's kind of more of a character study, and we're excited that it's different in that way.

HR: As the co-creator of the series, what did your vision look like initially when you came up with the idea versus what ended up happening in the final cut?

Sloane: I think when Donald [Glover] initially came to me with the show, we're friends and we worked together on Atlanta. Initially, I legitimately thought he was kidding just because I felt like [it was] such a strange fit for the two of us. But then as we started talking about it further, we realized we could really tell the story about the actual relationship. Why do people get married? What does loneliness look like? What does loneliness make us do and why? What does it look like to be vulnerable, especially if you have to be a good liar to be a good spy, but you have to be honest to be a good partner? And also how do you ground [the story] while still sort of having the aspirational silly fun that's escapism where you have to sort of allow logic to collapse because it's a good ride? So we thought, yeah, let's make these two have to meet and have to sign up for something versus already being married for years and years and not knowing that the other one happens to be a spy. We just thought that this was sort of a more realistic, grounded approach to unravel the story.

HR: I love that. Yeah, that's what really stood out to me. That amongst all the action, which of course is fun and exciting, the story is rooted in these two characters, and their relationship.

Sloane: I'm glad you feel that way. That makes me happy.

HR: As you mentioned, I know you wrote a few episodes of Atlanta and worked on it with Donald Glover. So what was it like for you to work with him again, as well as Maya Erskine?

Slonae: I mean, the absolute best. Donald and I were friends, but we've gotten so much closer. Maya and I are so tight. I feel like they're two of my closest friends in the world. And combine that with all of the other collaborators. We just sort of got to hang out with our friends all day and make this giant project. And what more can you want in the world than that?

HR: What are you most excited for the audience to see?

Sloane: I'm most excited for the audience to see this relationship and see themselves in some ways. We definitely tried to make [the characters] as specific as we possibly could. But I find that sometimes with that honest specificity, things end up being pretty relatable. I'm looking forward to people becoming invested in this love story.

HR: I know you mentioned, there's some inspiration from the 2005 film. Are there any easter eggs, whether obvious or subtle, that people can look forward to?

Slonae: Yeah. It's actually loaded with easter eggs. There's some dialogue, callbacks sort of remixed in our own way. There are things in terms of the house. There are things in terms of the timeline of when we meet certain characters. Yeah, we definitely thought about it. I feel like the beginning of the show, the opening, is a direct sort of nod to the film and what people might have expected the world to look like had we stayed within that world. And then we kind of pivot into our version, our spin on our Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

HR: No spoilers, but the season does end with a cliffhanger. Do you already have an idea or plans for a season 2 if that can happen?

Sloane: Yeah. We sort of did think of season 1 as its own complete film. And we're very satisfied with the way that we wrapped up the story. And if that ends up being the only story we tell, we'd be very pleased. But with that said, we definitely have some great ideas for season 2. And should we get the opportunity, we would be very happy to tell it, that's for sure.

* This interview has been edited for length and clarity

All eight episodes of Mr. and Mrs. Smith begin streaming Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 on Prime Video.