Will Smith
Will Smith REUTERS/Mike Blake

Will Smith's world-saving days just may be behind him, says "Independence Day 2" director Roland Emmerich.

Emmerich told the New York Daily News that Smith's increased price tag will keep him from appearing in the sequel to 1996's "Independence Day." Smith played Capt. Steven Hiller in the original film.

"Will Smith cannot come back because he's too expensive. But he'd also be too much of a marquee name. It would be too much," Emmerich said.

20th Century Fox confirmed the sequel last week, setting the release date as July 3, 2015.

Several of the original film's characters will return for the new movie, which will be set 20 years following the first attempted alien takeover in "Independence Day" -- and yes, the aliens will return for another attempt.

Bill Pullman confirmed recently that he will reprise his role as President Thomas J. Whitmore in the movie. He also added during the interview with CraveOnline that there was a backup plan if Smith didn't return for his role.

"The Will Smith part of it may be ongoing but I think there's strategies for both. I like what I have to do in both of them," he added.

According to Digital Spy, the sequel is planned to be divided into two parts currently titled "ID Forever, Part I" and "Part II."