Independence Day 2 writer-producer Dean Devlin reveals the original story plans he and Roland Emmerich had for Will Smith’s character. Released in 1996, Independence Day was both a huge smash at the box office with $817 million, and a huge career-booster for Smith as he transitioned from rapper/sitcom actor to movie star. Unfortunately, the much-later sequel Independence Day: Resurgence failed to recapture the magic of the original, pulling in just $389 million. In the wake of its box office failure, the disaster of Resurgence was largely blamed on the studio failing to lure Smith back to star as his original movie character Steven Hiller.

https://screenrant.com/independence-day-2-will-smith-original-story-plans/