AceShowbiz - The highly anticipated second season of Mr. & Mrs. Smith has officially started production, introducing notable changes to the cast and creative team. Talia Ryder has been cast as the new female lead, replacing Sophie Thatcher, who stepped away due to scheduling conflicts caused by previous project delays.

Ryder will star alongside Mark Eydelshteyn, best known for his work on "Anora," as the new Mr. and Mrs. Smith, taking over the roles originally portrayed by Donald Glover and Maya Erskine in the first season. The shift in casting comes after production was paused last September amid these scheduling challenges.

The series, streaming on Prime Video, is inspired by the 2005 action-comedy film of the same name starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. It centers on two ordinary individuals who abandon their previous lives to become covert assassins for a secretive organization. To maintain their cover, they live together as a married couple, creating a complex blend of domestic life and espionage.

The first season of Mr. & Mrs. Smith was a critical success, earning 16 Emmy nominations including Outstanding Drama Series and lead acting nods for Glover and Erskine. However, the upcoming season marks several changes beyond casting.

Anna Ouyang Moench, noted for her contributions to "Severance" and "Beef," has taken over as showrunner and lead writer for Season 2, replacing Francesca Sloane. Additionally, the production has relocated from New York to Los Angeles, a move supported by a substantial $22.4 million tax credit from the California Film Commission.

Prime Video has declined to provide comments on the casting changes or production details. As of now, no other new cast members have been announced for the upcoming season.

With filming underway and a revamped creative direction, fans of Mr. & Mrs. Smith can expect a fresh take on the spy thriller series when Season 2 premieres.