Will Smith learns about how his ‘Independence Day’ character died

It’s probably not a surprise at this point that Will Smith isn’t in the upcoming “Independence Day” sequel, “Independence Day: Resurgance,” since Smith and director Roland Emmerich couldn’t make an appearance by his character from the 1996 blockbuster work out. But the way they dispatched the heroic Stephen Hiller is just plain mean.

“I was working on ‘Suicide Squad’ during that time,” Smith tells Yahoo! Movies.”The trailer looks really cool. I’m going to be sitting around with tears in my eyes when that one comes out. [But] it was terrible when I found out my character died.”

What he’s referring to is a simple, tossed-off obituary for Hiller on one of the new film’s promotional sites.”While test piloting the ESD’s first alien hybrid fighter, an unknown malfunction causes the untimely death of Col. Hiller,” the post reads. “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 his son Dylan.”

That’s cold, marketing department. Really cold.

Follow Ned Ehrbar on Twitter: @nedrick