Billie Eilish
It sounds like a rumor too weird to be true, but I think it’s possible that this is more likely than people imagine. Deadline is reporting that given that season 2 of Mr. and Mrs. Smith is casting a new John and Jane (which makes sense), none other than Oscar and Grammy-winning singer Billie Eilish is being considered for the Jane role.
Billie Eilish? Leading an Amazon spy show? What?
Again, it’s less crazy than it sounds. I know not all that many people watched the series, but Eilish had a really eye-catching turn in Swarm, the murderous thriller where she plays a quasi-cult leader who gets into conflict with Dominique Fishback’s Dre. Eventually, she dies when Dre runs her over with her car.
But she was…very good? And additionally, Swarm was a series created by Donald Glover, aka the first John Doe and…one of the creators of Mr. and Mrs. Smith itself. He also co-wrote some episodes and directed the finale. So they have a history.
The idea is that this is not out of nowhere, and if you watch her one-episode turn in Swarm you can see the vision as she’s a genuinely great actress in addition to her vast singing talents. And that was her first acting role. I think this would be a cool concept and…you know what Billie Eilish is trying to do? No doubt win an EGOT, which would require a TV-based Emmy.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: (L-R) Finneas O’Connell and Billie Eilish, winners of the Best … [+] Original Song award for ‘What Was I Made For?’ from “Barbie”, pose in the press room during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
What is unclear is that even if a new John and Jane star in the show, whether Glover and Maya Erskine return to their roles after a cliffhanger finale made it anyone’s guess whether they lived or died. But the focus would likely be on a new couple. We have not heard any rumors about casting for a new John yet.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith was a critical hit for Amazon with 16 Emmy nominations, even a Best Drama one and Actor and Actress for Glover and Erskine. They didn’t win, but if they were in contention, you can see how it could draw Billie in. And this would just be her second acting role.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith first debuted in February 2024, and season 2 is not expected until 2026, meaning it will be at least two years, if not more, between seasons as is the eternal plague of the streaming era. Billie Eilish won another Oscar this year, released and album and is currently touring (I’m seeing her in November!), but once that wraps up, she could be free to shoot this. I hope she does.
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