It’s been years since "Independence Day:
Resurgence
" hit theaters, but fans are still waiting for news on "
Independence Day 3
." Here's a look at the factors that have kept this
sequel
from happening and what the future might hold.
The absence of
Will Smith
, a key figure in the original "Independence Day," played a significant role in the lack of momentum for a third film.
Smith, who portrayed the charismatic fighter pilot Steven Hiller, did not return for "Independence Day: Resurgence" due to scheduling conflicts. His character was written out, with the story explaining that Hiller had died. This was a major blow to the sequel's potential appeal.
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"Independence Day: Resurgence" faced harsh criticism and did not perform well at the box office. Released on June 24, 2016, it grossed $103 million in North America and $384 million worldwide, a stark contrast to the original film's $817 million. The sequel's budget was significantly higher, making its profits even less impressive. Critics and audiences were not impressed, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a 29% critics score and a 30% audience score. This poor reception halted plans for "Independence Day 3."
Before "Resurgence" flopped, director
Roland Emmerich
had big plans for a third movie. "Resurgence" was designed to set up future films, introducing new characters and expanding the universe. The story was supposed to continue with humanity joining forces with alien species to fight their common enemy, the Harvesters, on their home world. The sequel was intended to be the start of an intergalactic saga, but these plans were put on hold due to the sequel's failure.
Despite the setbacks, Emmerich has expressed hope that "Independence Day 3" could still happen, possibly as a series on Disney+. The streaming era offers new opportunities to revive the franchise. However, as of now, there has been no official confirmation of "Independence Day 3" going into production or a release date.
English (US) ·