Why did fans speculate that stars of Hancock, Charlize Theron, and Will Smith, were secretly involved in an affair?

Hollywood stars Charlize Theron and Will Smith shared the screen in Peter Berg’s 2008 blockbuster, Hancock, which became a huge hit grossing over $629 million worldwide. However, along with its success, the film also became the subject of rumors surrounding an alleged affair between its leading stars, Theron and Smith.

While such specualtions remained unconfirmed, they were reignited in light of the Men in Black star’s candid revelations about his open marriage with Jada Pinkett Smith, adding a new layer of intrigue to the rumored off-screen chemistry between the co-stars.

Charlize Theron And Will Smith Sparked Romance Rumors During Hancock

Will Smith and Charlize Theron, both, are some of the biggest names in Hollywood, celebrated for their captivating performances and a string of successful films.

A still from Hancock | Credit: TriStar

Apart from their professional career heights, both actors have been romantically linked to several names over the years, despite the Oscar-winning actor being married to actress Jada Pinkett Smith.

Theron and Smith also sparked romance rumors when they worked together in the 2008 superhero comedy film Hancock. These rumors intensified following comments from Theron, who opened up about her bond with Smith, even admitting that they fell “madly in love” with each other during filming.

Charlize Theron | Credit: Gage Skidmore/CCA BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

We didn’t get the chance to work that much together and yet it took us all of about five minutes to really fall madly in love with each other — We just hit it off instantly and were always messing around. There was something about me and him. We’re very similar people.

The actress also reflected on their playful interactions on set. Although the speculation eventually settled down, it resurfaced after Will Smith publicly shared details of his open marriage with Jada Pinkett Smith.

Will Smith And Jada Pinkett Smith’s Open Marriage Confessions

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith became a topic of discussion when the couple discussed their relationship on a bombshell episode of The Red Table Talk in 2020, particularly Pinkett Smiht’s entanglement with rapper August Alsina.

The Red Table Talk | Credit: Facebook Watch

However, the Bad Boys actor later revealed that his wife was not the only one to have an extramarital relationship during their years-long marriage. “Jada never believed in conventional marriage,” he told GQ before further explaining,

There were significant endless discussions about, what is relational perfection? What is the perfect way to interact as a couple? And for the large part of our relationship, monogamy was what we chose, not thinking of monogamy as the only relational perfection.

He continued,

We have given each other trust and freedom, with the belief that everybody has to find their own way. And marriage for us can’t be a prison. And I don’t suggest our road for anybody. I don’t suggest this road for anybody. But the experiences that the freedoms that we’ve given one another and the unconditional support, to me, is the highest definition of love.

Will Smith | Credit: Gage Skidmore/CCA BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

While the rumors remained uncertain, Theron’s earlier comments about her co-star have opened the door to various interpretations. However, despite these ups and downs Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have stayed together. Meanwhile, Theron is currently linked to Alex Dimitrijevic, with reports indicating that they have been in a relationship since 2023.

Hancock is available to watch on Prime Video.