"Independence Day" is finally getting the sequel fans have awaited for nearly two decades, but its biggest star won't be coming along for the ride.
Will Smith, whose role in the 1996 alien-invasion blockbuster helped propel him to megastardom, will not be appearing in "Independence Day 2," director Roland Emmerich told the New York Daily News on Saturday. "He's too expensive," Emmerich lamented.
That admission comes hot on the heels of Thursday's announcement that 20th Century Fox would be bringing the highly anticipated sequel to big screens on July 3, 2015. The news capped more than a decade of speculation about the long-gestating sequel, but it was not immediately clear whether or not Smith would be involved. That uncertainty wouldn't last long.
"Will Smith can not come back because he's too expensive," Emmerich told the Daily News, "but he'd also be too much of a marquee name."
"It would be too much," he said.
Smith, whose latest film, "After Earth," was a rare box-office miss, has been linked recently to several other blockbuster sequels/prequels, including "Bad Boys 3,""Hancock 2," and I Am Legend 2." His next film, an adaptation of Mark Helprin's celebrated fantasy novel "Winter's Tale," finds the actor in a supporting role for the first time in years.
Bill Pullman, who played a United States president-cum-fighter pilot in "Independence Day," has already indicated that there's a role for him in the sequel. While Emmerich has not yet revealed what other actors from the original might be returning, he did hint that several of the movie's primary characters have been written into the sequel's screenplay, which he co-wrote with producer Dean Devlin and James Vanderbilt.
"We have like maybe half of the people that you know would know from the first film (in the script)," Emmerich told the Daily News, "and the other half people who are new."
The ‘Top Gun’ actor is taking the heat over his June 7 appearance at Walmart's annual shareholders meeting, stating the store is a "role model" that is "improving women's lives" through education and career training.
One commenter in the Hollywood Reporter article stated “Cruise is just one of those really wealthy but ignorant people who have no clue about life of regular people. Obviously, Cruise didn't care to do any basic research. This was just a commercial for a corporate benefactor.”
On Twitter and other social media, Cruise is slammed by posters:
“He believes Scientology too. Not exactly the brightest bulb in the room.”
“I don't think much of Tom Cruise, either as a person or as an actor. His misguided and much too narrow perceptions of the world and his surroundings don't lend much room for me to change my very low opinion of him. His views about Walmart and women are just as ignorant as he is.”
“I don't think anybody wants to hear your two cents on anything as in my opinion you are not a role model for marriage, parenting or whatever that Church of Scientology preaches or brainwashes.”
The Hollywood icon is no stranger to controversy and media attacks about his relationship with Scientology. On May 23, 2005, Cruise couldn't contain his excitement over his relationship with actress Katie Holmes, and jumped up and down on Oprah’s couch, declaring his love. Indeed, a stunning performance.
Cruise in well known for attacking those who prescribe psychiatric drugs and embarked on an anti-drug tirade in TV interviews. On behalf of his Scientology beliefs, Cruise launched attacks on psychiatry, calling for prescription pill poppers to think carefully about the harms they're doing to their bodies.
Contradicting his ant-psychiatry and anti-psych meds agenda, Tom Cruise supports a Walmart empire that is one of the biggest mass-sellers of Rx drugs in America at the LOWEST prices available for 146 Rx DRUGS, including PAXIL and other psych drugs for children and adults.
Supporting a giant corporation that Cruise states is "improving women's lives", is nothing short of ludicrous at best.
In 2008, Walmart agreed to pay at least $352 million to settle lawsuits claiming that it forced employees to work off the clock. "Several lawyers described it as the largest settlement ever for lawsuits over wage violations."
A 2005 class action lawsuit in Missouri asserted approximately 160,000 to 200,000 people who were forced to work off-the-clock, were denied overtime pay, or were not allowed to take rest and lunch breaks.
In 2000, Walmart paid $50 million to settle a class-action suit that asserted that 69,000 current and former Walmart employees in Colorado had been forced to work off-the-clock.
Walmart has been criticized for not providing adequate supervision of its foreign suppliers. It has also been criticized for using sweatshops and prison labor.
At the Walmart annual meeting, Cruise stated “I truly admire your company, you know, and the more I learn about everything that you do, I’m inspired by what you all create every day. And all around the globe, Wal-Mart is taking the lead and making a difference.”
However, Walmart rejected new safety standards after the Dhaka building collapse that killed over 1,100 workers [mostly women], in April 2013.
Walmart is one of only a few major retailers that have refused to sign onto an industry-wide agreement that establishes legally binding protections for garment workers.
"Tom Cruise clearly has no clue about 'women's lives around the world,'" one Twitter user wrote. "Does he know nothing about Wal-Mart??" another user asked.
Some say Tom is warming up to Walmart for the DVD movie rental revenue that is generated at the chain store that boasts 40% of the market share.
So, not only is Tom Cruise contradicting himself and his Scientology beliefs concerning psych drugs being pushed out Walmart’s door at cheap prices, but also has his head in the sand in respect to his support of a monster chain-store that neglects to protect women’s rights and safety.
“Shame on you, Tom Cruise,” is circling the internet.
David Edgar Love
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