Will Smith has been in the film industry for a long time, and over the years, he has had the opportunity to work with several Hollywood stars. One of them also includes his Men in Black co-star, Tommy Lee Jones. While Will Smith once denied the offer to star in the 1997 sci-fi movie due to its concept, not only did he gain worldwide recognition starring in the franchise, but he was also able to earn a good friend.
Will Smith with Tommy Lee Jones

The duo first shared the screen in the 1997 sci-fi movie Men in Black and continued starring in the film series till the third movie, and Smith also shared that he enjoyed working with the Oscar-winning actress. However, there was still one issue the Independence Day star had with his co-star and friend.

Will Smith’s Only Issue With His Men in Black Co-Star

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are popular as the Men in Black duo of Agent J and Agent K, respectively. And one of the things Smith learned about his co-star while working with him was that he is a “really logical” person.
A still from Men in Black
During an interview with Esquire, the actor shared his experience working with him, saying, “Tommy Lee was easy.” Talking about Lee Jones, he stated that The Fugitive star is a “fantastic intellect” and brutally honest when it comes to sharing his opinion about something.

“He is brutally and beautifully honest,” Smith said. While he mentioned that he truly appreciates his co-star’s honesty, it is also something that he has some issues with. Explaining that humans are not creatures of reason, but rather they are creatures of emotion, he claimed that “we do not care what’s true. We care how it feels.”
Tommy Lee Jones
Not just the Emancipation star, but the Men in Black writer Ed Solomon also seems to have the same opinion of him, as he once shared an incident where Lee Jones shared his blunt opinion regarding the movie’s script.

Men in Black Writer Recalled Tommy Lee Jones’ Criticism

Tommy Lee Jones has had a reputation for being direct, and many of his co-stars have also shared that it often leaves a wrong impression of the actor. Something similar happened with the screenwriter Ed Soloman, who was hired to write the script for the 1997 film Men in Black.
Men in Black (1997)
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he shared that although he found the comic too dark and serious, he liked the concept and started working on the script. He recalled his first meeting with Lee Jones, where the actor told him that he “didn’t know what [he] was doing.”

Lee Jones told Soloman to make a choice, saying, “It’s either a comedy or science fiction. Make up your mind.” The Under Siege actor reportedly only accepted the offer for the film after Steven Spielberg assured him that the script would improve.

Men in Black franchise is available on Max.