Decisions actors make in the ever-changing Hollywood landscape can have lasting effects on their careers. The charismatic and in-demand actor Will Smith had to decide between starring in Independence Day: Resurgence and joining the cast of Concussion and the DC Universe film Suicide Squad. Filming for these movies was set to begin within a week of each other in April 2015, presenting Smith with a difficult conundrum.
Moviegoers and fans were left wondering why he decided not to return for the sequel to the groundbreaking 1996 science fiction film that launched his career.
Why Independence Day: Resurgence Needed Will Smith
Before delving into the thinking behind Will Smith’s decision, it’s important to recognize the gravity of his absence from Independence Day: Resurgence. The Roland Emmerich-helmed 1996 film was an instant classic and a landmark in the science fiction disaster film subgenre.
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Smith’s portrayal of Captain Steven Hiller, an Air Force pilot who played a crucial role in defending Earth from an alien invasion, left a lasting impression on moviegoers worldwide. The sequel finally came out seven years later, with the intention of expanding upon the success of the original. Without Smith, Resurgence had trouble living up to its name.
Vivica A. Fox, who played Jasmine Hiller once again, shared her thoughts on the matter, saying that the absence of Will Smith was a big problem for the film. Even though Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman reprised their roles from the first film, it was difficult to find a suitable replacement for Will Smith’s iconic character in the sequel.
Smith’s portrayal of Captain Hiller had become iconic by this point, and as the hero of the first film and a beloved figure in Hollywood, his absence was felt keenly in Resurgence.
The Catch-22 of Project Conflicts
Smith’s acting career saw a surge in demand as his fame grew. In 2015, he had to deal with the pressure of filming two blockbuster movies simultaneously: Concussion and Suicide Squad. Both were exciting prospects; Concussion was an Oscar contender that allowed Smith to show off his dramatic acting skills, and Suicide Squad allowed him to break into the booming superhero movie domain of the DC Universe.
Since production on Independence Day: Resurgence was also set to start around the same time, Smith had to make a tough decision. Finding the right projects that would help him advance his career became a matter of prioritization.
“I had a couple of films lined up, I had ‘Concussion’ and ‘Suicide Squad,’ and so it was a decision, timing-wise, between ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Suicide Squad.'”
Financially speaking, the decision to choose Concussion over Resurgence seems regrettable. The highest estimate of the movie’s budget was $57 million. However, despite Smith’s presence, it only managed to make a little over $48.6 million.
On the contrary, Resurgence, which received negative reviews, still earned more than $389.7 million internationally. While it wasn’t as successful as the original, this sequel proved the franchise could still be profitable.
Will Smith’s decision to focus on Concussion and Suicide Squad instead of returning for Independence Day: Resurgence was likely influenced by several factors, including but not limited to timing, career aspirations, financial considerations, and the potential impact on box office performance.
Despite his setback, the actor continues to be one of Hollywood’s most desired leading men on screen. The Hollywood star will next be seen in a fourth but untitled Bad Boys movie which does not have a release date yet.
Concussion is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Slash Film
