Will Smith had a choice to make: He could return to his 1996 star-making role as fighter pilot Steven Hiller for "Independence Day: Resurgence," or suit up as the DC Comics villain Deadshot for "Suicide Squad." He opted for the latter, obviously, but why?

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“I had the two screenplays in front of me for the 'Independence Day 2' and for 'Suicide Squad,'" he said during a recent Q&A at Facebook Headquarters. "I had to choose between the two of those. Even the choice of going to 'Suicide Squad' — nothing about the qualities of the movie — but the choice of trying to go forward versus clinging and clawing backwards. I do want to aggressively go forward and do new things and create and hopefully be able to stumble upon a new heyday.”

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Although it's impossible to say how the "Independence Day" sequel might have fared at the box office with Smith's name on the marquee, looking back at his decision with the luxury of hindsight, it would seem he chose wisely.

Panned by critics, "Resurgence" was a box-office disappointment, earning $389.7 million worldwide. "Suicide Squad" was far from a critical darling, but it was a financial success, grossing $745 million worldwide, and likely leading to a Harley Quinn spinoff -- even if there's no word of a sequel ... yet.

(via Entertainment Weekly)