Will Smith will not be returning for the sequel to Independence Day, but the actor still says he's sad to learn his character's fate.
In an interview with Yahoo Movies, Smith said that he was working on Suicide Squad when Independence Day: Resurgence was in production, and it was only later that he learned what happened to Captain Steven Hiller.
"I’m going to be sitting around with tears in my eyes when that one comes out," Smith said. "It was terrible when I found out my character died.”
The fate of Captain Hiller was revealed on an official Independence Day: Resurgence website, where a fictional news brief reads, “BREAKING REPORT: ALIEN TECH MALFUNCTION KILLS COL. HILLER.” In the new movie, Jessie Usher will play Col. Hiller’s son, Dylan Hiller.
We've previously heard that Smith wouldn't be in the movie because he had grown tired of sequels. This interview makes it sound like he was considering it, but he couldn't because it conflicted with Suicide Squad. Smith did praise the trailer for the sequel, though, noting that it looks "really cool."
Independence Day: Resurgence opens in theaters on June 24.