Vivica A. Fox played Jasmine Hiller, who’s the wife of Will Smith’s character Captain Steven Hiller in the 1996 film, Independence Day directed by Roland Emmerich. Fox reprised her role in the 2016 Independence Day: Resurgence, but Smith was unable to reprise his role due to scheduling conflicts. Smith told BBC Radio, “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.” Smith continued, “They were sending pictures from the set, and I was like, ahh.” Smith finished, “The world is in a place of nostalgia right now. Specifically in entertainment, there’s such a pull for nostalgia, so it was just the perfect opportunity and it didn’t work out.”

Fox shared her honest thoughts, since playing the role of Jasmine Hiller, on Independence Day: Resurgence to The A.V. Club. Fox stated, “I just didn’t feel like it was good and lived up to the first one.” Fox continued, “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.”

Fox shared that when she was at the premiere she was wondering “how the fans are going to feel about [Smith not reprising his role]. And sure enough on Twitter, they blew me up.”