A viral website connected to the sequel reveals what happened to Smith’s Col. Steven Hiller, who battled aliens with Jeff Goldblum’s character nearly 20 years ago.
Movie goers know that Will Smith won’t be reprising his role in the upcoming Independence Day sequel, Resurgence. His son will be the main focus played by Jessie Usher, alongside Vivica A. Fox’s Jasmine and characters played by Liam Hemsworth, Judd Hirsch and Bill Pullman.
The website, titled “The War of 1996,” allows viewers to navigate through moments in the alternate history of the film to fill in the story of what transpired between the 1996 alien attack depicted in Independence Day and 2016 when, in the world of the movie, the aliens return to earth — including the details of Col. Hiller’s fate.
A moment on the timeline reveals that on April 27, 2007: “While test piloting the ESD’s first alien hybrid fighter, an unknown malfunction causes the untimely death of Col. Hiller. Hiller’s valor in the War of ’96 made him a beloved global icon whose selfless assault against the alien mothership lead directly to the enemy’s defeat. He is survived by his wife Jasmine and son Dylan.”
Click here to view alternate ending to Independence Day
Independence Day: Resurgence hits theaters on June 24, 2016.
