"Independence Day: Resurgence" first trailer is finally out, giving fans a glimpse of the highly anticipated sequel to 1996's "Independence Day." Meanwhile, it is confirmed that Will Smith is no longer part of the film.
Jeff Goldblum who plays David Levinson is the lead cast of the show since the original star; Will Smith can no longer reprise his role as Steve Hiller and was missing in the film's newly released trailer.
It is said that the character of Smith, Capt. Steven Hiller was killed while "test piloting the ESD’s first alien hybrid fighter" which malfunctioned and exploded. Hiller died in 2007 due to that explosion, wrote the film's new site Warof1996.com.
"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," director Roland Emmerich said according to Cinema Blend who also revealed that Smith was originally part of the original show. Smith had a father and son story on "After Earth" and didn't want to work on a film with a similar storyline.
"He wanted to do 'Suicide Squad' and other projects, so he passed. ... We missed him – trust me, we did – but he gave us his blessings and for that we’re very grateful. He was actually instrumental in handpicking (Usher)," Emmerich added.
"Independence Day: Resurgence" will introduce new characters that includes Liam Hemsworth, Charlotte Gainbourg, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Vivica A. Fox, and Brent Spiner, who will be joining Goldblum and Bill Pullman.
Meanwhile, Vivica A. Fox will reprise her role as the wife of Hiller named Jasmine. In the sequel, she is a hospital administrator and no longer a stripper. She will focus on raising her son Dylan, played by Jessie Usher, who is a personal choice of Smith, International Business Times reported.
The trailer of the film had the statement: "Today we will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression and persecution but from annihilation. And should we rue the day, the fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday but they day that the world said in one voice we won't go quietly into the night, we will not vanish without a fight, we're going to live on, we're going to survive, today we celebrate our..."
"Independence Day: Resurgence" is expected to air on June 24, 2016.
