Will Smith's Absence In Independence Day 2 Explained

Will Smith's absence in Independence Day: Resurgence is a result of several factors, including scheduling conflicts, creative differences, and financial considerations. Smith, who played Captain Steven Hiller in the original Independence Day, cited timing issues with other film projects, such as Concussion and Suicide Squad, as the reason for his unavailability. Director Roland Emmerich also mentioned that the script was rewritten to focus on a younger generation, making Smith's character less central to the story. Additionally, there were reports of Smith's high financial demands, with Emmerich initially stating that Smith was too expensive for the sequel.

Will Smith's character is killed off-screen

Will Smith's character, Colonel Steven Hiller, is killed off-screen in Independence Day: Resurgence. Smith's absence from the film was explained by his character's death, which occurred sometime after the events of the first Independence Day film.

According to a viral site created to promote the film, Col. Hiller died in a test flight gone wrong. The site includes a mock news headline that reads, "Alien Tech Malfunction Kills Col. Hiller," and a blurb explaining the circumstances of his death:

> "While test piloting the ESD's first alien hybrid fighter, an unknown malfunction causes the untimely death of Col. Hiller. Hiller's valor in the War of '96 made him a beloved global icon whose selfless assault against the alien mothership led directly to the enemy's defeat. He is survived by his wife Jasmine and son Dylan."

Hiller's death is also briefly alluded to in the film by his widow, Jasmine (played by Vivica A. Fox), and his stepson, Dylan (played by Jessie T. Usher).

Smith himself has commented on his character's off-screen death, expressing sadness and a bit of surprise. In an interview with Yahoo! Movies, Smith said:

> "I was working on Suicide Squad during that time. [Independence Day director] Roland [Emmerich] and I had talked about it. The trailer looks really cool. I’m going to be sitting around with tears in my eyes when that one comes out… It was terrible when I found out my character died."

While Smith's decision to sit out the Independence Day sequel was reportedly due to scheduling conflicts and a desire to move forward with his career, his character's death in the film suggests a definitive end to his involvement in the franchise.

Scheduling conflicts

Will Smith's absence in Independence Day: Resurgence was due to scheduling conflicts, according to the actor himself. In an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, Smith explained that he had multiple films lined up, including Concussion and Suicide Squad, and had to choose between the two. He stated that it was a decision based on timing and that he opted to move forward with new projects rather than revisiting past roles.

Smith's decision to choose Suicide Squad over Independence Day: Resurgence was likely influenced by the opportunity to be part of a new franchise and connect with a new generation of movie fans. Additionally, the timing of the productions may have played a role, as both films were separated by only a month on the release calendar, indicating a potential overlap in filming schedules.

Director Roland Emmerich also provided insight into Smith's absence, stating that it was a creative decision to focus on a younger generation in the sequel. He mentioned that the original script included Smith in a central father-son storyline, but after hiring two new writers, they decided to shift the plot to a younger cast, rendering Smith's character, Captain Steven Hiller, unnecessary.

While Smith's decision was based on scheduling conflicts and a desire to explore new projects, it is worth noting that there were also rumours about financial disagreements. In 2013, Emmerich claimed that Smith was ""too expensive"" and that the deal fell apart due to money. However, in later interviews, Emmerich attributed Smith's absence to creative choices and a desire to pass the torch to a new generation of characters.

Will Smith was 'too expensive'

Will Smith's absence in Independence Day: Resurgence was due to a variety of factors, including scheduling conflicts, script changes, and notably, his high salary demands. Smith's inclusion in the film was always going to be a costly affair, and it was reported that he demanded a $50 million paycheck to reprise his role as Colonel Steven Hiller. This figure would likely have included a back-end deal, where he would receive a substantial percentage of the box office gross in addition to his upfront payment.

Director Roland Emmerich acknowledged the financial challenge of casting Smith, stating that the studio could not afford to pay him a significant percentage of the film's profits. Smith's star power and the potential cost of his contract were significant factors in his exclusion from the film.

Smith's decision to opt for other projects, such as "Suicide Squad," also contributed to his absence. He expressed a desire to move forward and take on new challenges rather than reprise past roles.

The combination of Smith's high salary demands, the studio's budget constraints, and his preference for exploring new roles all played a part in his absence from the Independence Day sequel.

While the film's producers managed to assemble a host of new cast members, including Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, and Jessie T. Usher, Smith's absence was notable, with some arguing that his presence could have significantly impacted the film's success.

The script was rewritten without him

Will Smith's absence in the Independence Day sequel has been attributed to various reasons, including scheduling conflicts, salary disagreements, and creative differences.

Initially, Smith's decision not to reprise his role as Captain Steven Hiller in "Independence Day: Resurgence" was reported to be due to scheduling conflicts with his commitments to other films, namely "Concussion" and "Suicide Squad". Smith himself stated that he had to choose between the two projects and opted for the latter, prioritizing moving forward in his career.

However, there were also reports of salary disagreements and creative differences. Smith was rumored to have demanded $50 million to appear in two planned sequels, which was refused by 20th Century Fox. Additionally, writer-producer Dean Devlin shared that the original plan for the sequels included Smith's character, mirroring Rocky Balboa's arc in "Rocky III". Devlin further explained that Smith's character would have to get "the eye of the tiger back" after getting rich and famous. However, when Smith declined the offer, this goal "got diluted", and the script had to be rewritten.

In an interview with HeyUGuys, director Roland Emmerich confirmed that Smith was included in the original script for "Resurgence" as part of a central father-son storyline. However, after hiring two younger writers, the plot was flipped to focus on a new, younger generation, rendering Smith's character unnecessary. Emmerich also mentioned that Smith's absence allowed them to explore other possibilities and pass the torch to the younger cast members.

While Smith's character, Steven Hiller, was killed off-screen in "Resurgence", the door was left open for a potential third installment. Emmerich stated that a third film could be made, depending on the success of the second movie, and it would likely be set a year or two after the events of "Resurgence", featuring the same group of characters, especially the younger ones.

He didn't want to return to past roles

Will Smith's absence from the cast of *Independence Day: Resurgence* was felt by his co-star Vivica A. Fox, who believed the film needed Smith to work. She felt that the absence of Smith, who played her character's husband in the original film, was the one true link that was missing in the sequel.

Smith himself has given a few different reasons for his decision not to reprise his role as Captain Steven Hiller. In an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, Smith explained that it was a matter of scheduling, as he had to choose between appearing in *Independence Day: Resurgence* and taking on new roles in Suicide Squad and Concussion. He also stated that he wanted to aggressively go forward and do new things, rather than reprising an old role.

In a livestream in 2016, Smith reiterated that he wanted to try new things, saying:

> "I had the two screenplays in front of me for Independence Day 2 and for Suicide Squad. I had to choose between the two of those. [I made the choice] to go forward versus clinging and clawing backwards. I do want to aggressively go forward and do new things."

Director Roland Emmerich also gave some insight into Smith's absence, stating that the original script included Smith in a central father-son storyline. However, after hiring two younger writers, the plot shifted to focus on a new, younger generation, which made Smith's character unnecessary.

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