Will Smith Felt 'Terrible' Finding Out His Independence Day Character Is Dead

Don’t mention Captain Steven Hiller to Will Smith. It’s just all too painful.

It has emerged since the launching of a viral website for ‘Independence Day’ sequel, 'Independence Day: Resurgence’, that his character died while testing alien technology left behind by the invaders from 1996.

Poor Will, who declined the offer to return for the movie, was nonetheless upset at the news, however.

He’s said that he was too busy with filming and pre-production of 'Suicide Squad’ to enter into Roland Emmerich’s update.

“I’m going to be sitting around with tears in my eyes when that one comes out,” he told Yahoo Movies’ US site.

“It was terrible when I found out my character died.

“I was working on 'Suicide Squad’ during that time. Roland and I had talked about it. The trailer looks really cool.”

But speaking to Cinema Blend earlier this year, Emmerich inferred that there was perhaps more to it than clashing schedules.

“In the very beginning, I wanted to work with him and he was excited to be in it but then after a while he was tired of sequels, and he did another science fiction film, which was his father-son story, so he opted out,” he said.

Jeff Goldblum will be returning for the movie, however, as will Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch and Vivica A. Fox.

Liam Hemsworth will take on the heroic gap left by Smith, while 'House’ star Sela Ward will play the current President of the US.

The movie is due out on June 24, 2016. Check the trailer below…

Read more
MASH star Wayne Rogers dies
Indiana Jones 5 confirmed
Fisher feels ‘protective’ over Daisy Ridley

Image credits: Rex Features