MovieChat Forums > Independence Day (1996) Discussion > “Independence Day” turns 25 years old

“Independence Day” turns 25 years old


https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/independence-day-movie-cast-oral-history-1234976626/

“As the beloved film turns 25, director Roland Emmerich, writer Dean Devlin and stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Vivica A. Fox, Randy Quaid and more look back at the battle to cast Will Smith, concerns over that famous Super Bowl ad, and a last-minute reshoot to save the ending.”

20th Century Fox was initially against casting Will Smith in Independence Day. Writer Dean Devlin says, "They said, 'You cast a Black guy in this part, you’re going to kill foreign [box office].'” The film went on to gross over $817 million worldwide.

reply

It's because nobody really cares about the color of an actors skin besides a very small minority, despite what the liberal outraged majority might declare.

reply

Will Smith plays a man who dates a single mother who is a stripper...what a wonderful contribution to black advancement.

I don't ever think of this as a "Will Smith Movie" as I see the movie's concept as being the real star.

Like Titanic, it's bigger than Leonardo DiCaprio.

And it's wrong to say that Independence Day made Will a movie star, because Bad Boys in 1995 was a huge hit and his breakout role.

reply