Vivica A. Fox Reflects on Independence Day Franchise, Acknowledges Impact of Will Smith’s Absence in Sequel
Since its release in 1996, the alien invasion movie Independence Day, starring Will Smith, has achieved cult classic status.
Vivica A. Fox, a part of the original cast, reprised her role as Jasmine Dubrow in the sequel, but 2016’s Independence Day: Resurgence failed to match the cultural impact or box office success of its predecessor. The film, directed by Roland Emmerich, also received a lukewarm response from professional film critics.
In a recent interview with The A.V. Club, Fox candidly admitted that Resurgence fell short in recapturing the magic of Independence Day. The veteran actress expressed that the absence of Will Smith had a detrimental effect on the second installment of the franchise.
“I just didn’t feel like it was good and lived up to the first one,” she explained. “I really feel we missed out by not bringing Will Smith back. 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 Will Smith wasn’t there.”
Fox also revealed her apprehensions before the premiere of Independence Day: Resurgence, specifically concerning how fans of the original film would react to its sequel. Apparently, a significant number of her Twitter followers expressed disappointment.
The original Independence Day, directed by Roland Emmerich, achieved tremendous success, grossing over $817 million at the global box office. The 20th Century Fox-backed film holds a critics score of 68 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 75 percent.
In contrast, Independence Day: Resurgence only managed to accumulate around $390 million worldwide. The sequel received harsh criticism from reviewers, as evidenced by its 29 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Moviegoers on the review-aggregation website gave the sci-fi follow-up a 30 percent rating.
Despite the mixed response to the sequel, Independence Day continues to hold a special place in the hearts of fans as an enduring cult classic, thanks in part to the unforgettable performances and the cultural impact of the original film.
