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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 inIndependence Day: Resurgenceand joining the cast ofConcussionand the DC Universe filmSuicide 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.
WhyIndependence Day: ResurgenceNeeded Will Smith
Before delving into the thinking behind Will Smith’s decision, it’s important to recognize the gravity of his absence fromIndependence 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,Resurgencehad 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 ofWill Smithwas 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 inResurgence.
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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:ConcussionandSuicide Squad. Both were exciting prospects;Concussionwas an Oscar contender that allowed Smith to show off his dramatic acting skills, andSuicide Squadallowed him to break into the booming superhero movie domain of the DC Universe.
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Since production onIndependence Day: Resurgencewas 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 chooseConcussionoverResurgenceseems 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 onConcussionandSuicide Squadinstead of returning forIndependence Day: Resurgencewas 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 untitledBad Boysmovie which does not have a release date yet.
Concussionis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Source:Slash Film
Mabel Andrady
Senior Writer
Articles Published :694
Mabel, aka MJ, is a FandomWire Sr. Writer, pop-culture fanatic, and an MA in Health Demography holder. When she’s not indulging in her guilty pleasure of penning everything Hollywood, Marvel & DC, she writes academic essays on COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS. With 2500+ articles published online, she brings a unique twist to entertainment writing. A jack-of-all-trades, MJ enjoys movies, writes/acts in plays, writes music, and dreams of being a successful actress. She offers a fresh perspective, making her writing a must-read for those seeking knowledge and entertainment.
