Source: Latino Review

At a recent press event to promote his upcoming disaster picture 2012, writer/director Roland Emmerich commented on the issues currently holding back a potential sequel to his 1996 hit Independence Day.

According to Emmerich, he won't make the project without Will Smith, but Fox would be fine with Smith being absent. Emmerich, his producing partner Dean Devlin and Smith are trying to work out a deal. Emmerich did not elaborate on whether the sequel would also have actors Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Vivica A. Fox returning.

Independence Day earned $306.1 million at the domestic box office, which translates to approximately $497 million when adjusted for inflation. The film was Smith's first major success, which he followed up with Men in Black the next year. Presently, Emmerich is coming off of the disappointment of his 2008 film 10,000 B.C., which only made $94.7 million domestically against a $105 million budget. 2012, starring John Cusack and Woody Harrelson, is set to open on November 13.