‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ Was A Disappointment For Director Roland Emmerich Too
Even thoughIndependence Day: Resurgenceraked in nearly$390 million at the worldwide box office, it was still quite the disappointment for 20th Century Fox. The film didn’t land well with critics either, earning just a29% on Rotten Tomatoes, not to mention a 30% from audiences. They weren’t the only ones disappointed, because directorRoland Emmerichhas found himself regretting ever making the movie.
Speaking withYahoowhile promoting the release of the World War II epicMidwaythis weekend, Emmerich lamented whatIndependence Day: Resurgenceturned out to be, and it’s a direct result ofWill Smithdeciding not to make the movie. The director explained:
“I just wanted to make a movie exactly like the first. But then in the middle of production Will opted out because he wanted to do Suicide Squad.”
It was common knowledge that there were two possible paths forIndependence Day: Resurgenceto take. One would have involved the return of Will Smith, something fans of the first movie hoped would happen. And the other was without him, and unfortunately, that’s the movie we ended up getting. It just didn’t have the same spirit of the first movie, and Emmerich knew that in the middle of production. Despite knowing they might not have Will Smith on board, there was no solidified back-up plan. Emmerich recalled:
“I should have stopped making the movie because we had a much better script, then I had to, really fast, cobble another script together. I should have just said no because all of a sudden I was making something I criticized myself: a sequel.”
Independence Day: Resurgencedefinitely feels like a mess of an ensemble movie without any real star to lead it. ThoughJessie T. Usherstepped up to take the role of Will Smith’s son, the return of surviving original characters played byBill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Brent Spiner, Judd HirschandVivica A. Foxjust didn’t pack the same punch without Will Smith joining them.
Honestly, it’s a shameResurgencedisappointed at the box office and critically, because the ending promises such an insane possibility for future films. The door is even open for Will Smith to come back, despite being presumed dead. So maybe after some time passes and more nostalgia sets in, we’ll return to the world ofIndependence Day.
