Insider Reveals Secret Ingredient that Saved Independence Day 2: The Unbreakable Link

Vivica A. Fox acknowledges that Independence Day: Resurgence would not succeed without the return of Will Smith. The sequel to the popular 1996 film, Independence Day, was directed by Roland Emmerich and focused on Earth's defense program against returning alien attacks. Fox, who played Jasmine Dubrow in the original movie, reprised her role in the follow-up alongside Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, and Brent Spiner.

Released in 2016, Independence Day: Resurgence did not live up to the success of its predecessor and received negative reviews from both critics and audiences. In a recent interview with The A.V. Club, Fox admitted that she was aware the film would face challenges without Smith, who played Captain Steven Hiller in Independence Day. She explained that his absence was "the one true link" that may have impacted its performance. Read Fox's comments on Independence Day: Resurgence below.

Could Smith's Return Have Helped Independence Day 2?

: The absence of Will Smith in 'Independence Day 2' left us feeling like we missed a significant opportunity. While we managed to assemble most of the original cast, the true connection to the success of the first film was lacking without Will Smith's presence. I'll be honest - I attended the premiere with a sense of curiosity about how fans would react. As expected, Twitter exploded with their thoughts on the matter.

Smith, portraying Hiller, a U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot who valiantly battled extraterrestrials during the War of 1996, played a pivotal role in the original film. However, despite initial plans for multiple sequels, Smith opted not to reprise his role in Independence Day: Resurgence, prompting a shift in the plot's focus towards his stepson Dylan (portrayed by Jessie T. Usher), along with the introduction of other central characters like Jake Morrison (played by Liam Hemsworth). It was disclosed that Hiller tragically perished while testing a creation from Earth Space Defense, but his presence continued to be acknowledged through his portrait adorning the walls of the White House.

Smith's departure from the series for Suicide Squad in 2016 was both a commercial success and received negative reviews. This raises the question of how his absence might have influenced the Independence Day sequel, not only in terms of box office figures, but also in potential changes made. In 2022, Emmerich discussed the script for Independence Day: Resurgence and mentioned spending a couple of weeks rewriting it after Smith's departure. This suggests that the story may have been stronger before he left, indicating that his role could have positively impacted the movie's prospects.

Given the pivotal nature of Smith's character in Independence Day, his absence likely left a noticeable void for fans, which could explain some of the overall reactions. The presence of Smith alongside the returning cast may have attracted more viewers to theaters. It is intriguing to imagine what Independence Day: Resurgence would have been like had he returned. Fox's comments seem to echo the sentiments of many audiences, suggesting that the film could have potentially been more successful.

Source: The A.V. Club