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Why Will Smith isn't in the 'Independence Day' sequel

Will Smith independence day
20th Century Fox

The "Independence Day" sequel, "Independence Day: Resurgence" is in theaters this weekend. If you head out to see it, the first thing you'll probably notice is that Will Smith isn't returning for another battle with aliens.

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What gives?

Back in 2014, Deadline reported Smith turned down working on the film.

Previously, director Roland Emmerich, who returned to direct the sequel, said they simply couldn't afford to cast Smith in the film because "he's too expensive."

"Will Smith can not come back because he's too expensive, but he'd also be too much of a marquee name," Emmerich told The New York Daily News in 2013. "It would be too much."

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Smith received a $20 million payday for 2001's boxer movie "Ali."

Since then, Emmerich spoke with Cinemablend saying Smith was originally up for returning in the sequel. Emmerich said the film was expected to focus on the dynamic between Smith's fighter pilot Captain Steven Hiller and his son, Dylan. However, he changed his mind after his sci-fi movie "After Earth" bombed in 2013. That movie was centered around another father-son duo, but starring his real-life son Jaden.

"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," Emmerich told Cinemablend.

after earth will smith
After Earth trailer

So does the movie deal with Smith's absence? 

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Easy, they're killing him off. Fox launched a website called The War of 1996 after the debut of the first trailer last December showing a timeline of events since the original film in 1996. 

Entertainment Weekly spotted a nugget on the timeline showing that Smith's character, Colonel Steven Hiller, was conveniently killed April 27, 2007 while testing an alien hybrid ship.

will smith killed independence day 2
Fox

Here's the entire blurb:

"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 lead directly to the enemy's defeat. He is survived by his wife Jasmine and son Dylan."

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It looks like Smith doesn't have the chance to even come back in any more potential sequels.

Though Smith won't be back, a majority of actors from the original 1996 movie are reprising their roles including Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox, and Bill Pullman.

independence day jeff goldblum
Jeff Goldblum in the trailer for "Independence Day: Resurgence." Fox

The first film became the highest-grossing movie of 1996. It made over $817 million worldwide. Though US film critics aren't seeing the film until after its release Friday morning, early buzz is that the film is a bunch of silly fun.

Box-office estimates are calling for $53 million opening weekend. But, who knows, we could have another "Jurassic World" on our hands.

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"Independence Day: Resurgence" will be in theaters June 24, 2016.

Will Smith
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