As the first trailer of "Independence Day: Resurgence" film released, it was then discover that Will Smith's character, Captain Steven "Steve" Hiller, is apparently missing and have lead fans into scrutinizing where's the F/A-18 pilot is.
That said, an interactive timeline on "War of 1996" official website clarified the reason of Will Smith's absence in the forthcoming film and have noted that his character, Captain Steve, actually died way back in 2007.
According to iSchoolGuide, the said interactive timeline serves as a dedication to those individuals who intensely fought the aliens in 1996's "Independence Day" and as well as those who encounter an order of imperative events which happened after the battle.
Will Smith's character reportedly died while doing the test piloting of ESD's first alien hybrid fighter.
Fans, then again, shouldn't feel that bad as the 47-year-old character has evidently died a legend, after his sacrificial assault alongside other coordinated group has taken out the alien's mothership and eliminated the extra-terrestrial threat.
All things considered, several reports and speculations are claiming that one of the principle reasons of Will Smith's absence in "Independence Day: Resurgence" was a result of budget issues.
The actor, on the other hand, has not yet commented on the alleged reports.
Months prior, film director Roland Emmerich clarified why Will Smith opted out and didn't return for the sequel.
"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 fil, which was his father-son story, so he opted out," said Emmerich, in an interview with Cinema Blend.
The forthcoming "Independence Day: Resurgence" takes after a global conflict, where a fresh wave of alien ships returns to Earth and could be looking for retribution for the events of the first film, undermining mankind yet again.