Independence Day sequel shouldn't have happened without Will Smith, says co-star

Vivica A. Fox believes the makers of Independence Day: Resurgence made a huge mistake in not convincing Will Smith to return for the Independence Day sequel.

The 1996 original proved to be a monster hit and made over $800 million at the box office. Though reception was mixed to positive, the general consensus was that it was highly entertaining.

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Twenty years later, a sequel was produced, but without the leading man from the first movie and Fox reckons this majorly hurt the project.

"I just didn’t feel like it was good and lived up to the first one. I really feel we missed out by not bringing Will Smith ," she told the AV Club.

"We got most of the original cast but I think the one true link that was missing to the success of Independence Day 2 was that we missed ... that Will Smith wasn’t there.

"And I'm going to tell you, I'm going to keep it real ... I was at the premiere and I was like 'Mmmm ... Let's see how the fans are going to feel about this'. And sure enough on Twitter, they blew me up."

Fox reprised her role from the original for Resurgence alongside Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Robert Loggia and Judd Hirsch. New cast members included Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe and Jessie T. Usher.

Why did Will Smith pass on Independence Day 2?

Though a number of reasons have been given for Smith's absence, including director Roland Emmerich claiming the actor was "too expensive", Smith himself has explained that it was simply due to scheduling conflicts with two other projects.

“It was one of those things — 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," he revealed to the BBC.

“They were sending pictures from the set, and I was like, ahh.

“The world is in a place of nostalgia right now,” he added. “Specifically in entertainment, there’s such a pull for nostalgia, so it was just the perfect opportunity and it didn’t work out.”

Independence Day: Resurgence went on to become a box office bomb which killed any hopes of a third movie being produced.