For Will Smith's Independence Day character Col. Steve Hiller, the fat lady has sung.
Last month, 20th Century Fox dropped the explosive trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence, the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster about an alien race threatening to destroy Earth. Although the trailer was pretty badass, the absence of Will Smith, though expected, was sad nonetheless. And finally, for the first time since the release of the trailer and learning of the fate of his character, Will Smith has responded.
"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," Smith told Yahoo Movies.
Launching alongside the release of the first trailer was a "viral" site featuring an interactive timeline dating major events since the aliens first attacked on July 2, 1996. Around 2007, we learn that Hiller died while test piloting the Earth Space Defense program's first alien hybrid fighter.
Smith has been on the receiving end of much criticism for his departure from the film, although it sounds like he did actually want to be in it; unfortunately, it sounds like the timing just didn't work out.
“I was working on Suicide Squad during that time. [Independence Day director] Roland [Emmerich] and I had talked about it," he said. Though saddened with his character's death, he's not bitter towards the film. "The trailer looks really cool."
Hearing Smith talk about his feelings towards the film certainly stings a bit, as I would've loved to see him return in some capacity — even as a minor role. The fact that they killed him off means any hope of seeing him in the future — because we know there will be more Independence Day films beyond Resurgence — is now lost.
On the bright side, much of the original film's cast is returning including Vivica A. Fox (Jasmine), Bill Pullman (President Whitemore), and Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson). Jessie Usher will play Hiller's son, Dylan, who I'm pretty sure we get a glimpse of flying a ship in the trailer.
[EW]
