Will Smith is laughing in his mansion now

Maybe more money for sure but I dont think a better movie. Emmerich hasn't written a good film in years and he's had a lot of big stars in them. Smith would've added more interest for sure and a bigger profile but I dont think he wouldve saved this POS. And I never understand why people thought the first film was a big hit with him in it. He wasnt a big movie star at the time. Sure he became one after but the film made him he didnt make the film. In this one you could argue the latter now but Smiths pressence wouldnt make it a hit if it was still a POS. After Earth proved that.

Will Smith wanted to do this film originally, but the critical and commercial failure of the film After Earth is why he got cold feet. The Independence Day: Resurgence Father/Son theme film was likely going to be similar to After Earth and it was basically Smith refusing to be part of something that had already been what he called "the most painful failure" of his career. Smith wouldn't be laughing, he would be just more content not to walk into another landmine to further damage his career.

Concussion wasn't that much of a failure. Smith got good reviews for his performance despite the lukewarm response for the film as a whole.