Harrison Ford shaped Will Smith’s performance in the sci-fi masterpiece.

After his acting debut with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith sought more opportunities in the world of cinema, and following movies like Six Degrees of Separation and Bad Boys, he took on the role of Captain Hiller in Roland Emmerich’s 1996 blockbuster Independence Day. The sci-fi film following an alien attack on Earth was a huge hit at the time, grossing over $817 million at the box office.

Among the rest of the cast of the film, Will Smith was also commended for bringing Captain Steven Hiller to life. And the actor later shared how Harrison Ford notably influenced his approach towards the character.

Harrison Ford Influenced Will Smith’s Character in Independence Day

The 1996 movie Independence Day has been one of the highest-grossing films of Will Smith. Roland Emmerich’s film not only allowed him to showcase his range as an actor, but its huge success also established him as a major box-office draw.

Independence Day

The actor portrayed the role of a Marine pilot, Captain Steven Hiller, who leads Earth’s defense against extraterrestrial invaders. And it is still credited to be one of his best on-screen performances. And the actor has shared how he was able to deliver such an exceptional performance on-screen.

As per IMDb, the Men in Black star once revealed that he drew inspiration for Captain Steven Hiller from his favorite action star, Harrison Ford, especially from his iconic Star Wars character, Han Solo. Smith has shared his appreciation for the Star Wars franchise and that he has been a fan since the very first movie.

“I was probably 10 years old when Star Wars came out, and I have never been smashed like that in a movie theater,” he shared in an interview. He has shared that he wanted to have a similar impact on his audience and wanted them to experience the same awe and excitement he felt during that iconic cinematic moment.

Will Smith Reflects on Star Wars Influence on Him

Hollywood star Will Smith shared his profound admiration for the cultural phenomenon of Star Wars, emphasizing the lasting impact it had on him growing up. The actor revealed during an interview with Collider that growing up, Star Wars was the movie that left him amazed.

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

“Star Wars was the movie, when I was growing up, where I was absolutely stunned. After Star Wars ended, I couldn’t believe that they could make me feel like that, with a story and with these characters.”
He also shared that he has been chasing the magic of two iconic pieces of entertainment, George Lucas’ Star Wars and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. He also revealed that these are some of the things that have inspired him to create something that resonates with audiences in the same profound way he felt while experiencing these masterpieces.

Independence Day is available on Prime Video.