Will Smith's Character Won't Be in 'Independence Day: Resurgence' Because He Died

So THAT explains why Will Smith was nowhere to be found in the new 'Independence Day: Resurgence' trailer.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Earlier today, the massive new trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence hit the airwaves, and while we've known that Will Smith wouldn't be returning to the Independence Day series since January, not seeing Smith as Capt. Steve Hiller was still a blow. Now, with the release of the trailer, the website Warof1996.com has sprung up and provides some interesting details regarding the 20 years since Independence Day took place.

It looks like Smith's character, Steve Hiller, had been promoted to Colonel but died in 2007 while testing out the first alien hybrid fighter (which makes sense, considering Jeff Goldblum's David Levinson made a comment about "using their technology" in the trailer). The site goes on to say that Hiller was survived by his wife Jasmine (Vivica A. Fox) and his son Dylan (Jesse Usher), and based on the trailer, one would assume that Dylan has jumped right into the fire as a pilot, just like his father.

It's an easy out for Smith, who hasn't been too keen on doing sequels. It will be interesting to see if/who Independence Day: Resurgence incorporates Colonel Hiller's tragic death into the story.

[h/t Consequence of Sound]

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