AceShowbiz -

There is still a chance for fans to see Will Smith leap into action again in the sequel to "Independence Day", Roland Emmerich says. During a chat with Digital Spy, the German director retracts his earlier statement that the Oscar nominee, who famously played Captain Steven Hiller in the 1996 movie, will not return for the next chapter.

"I sometimes say no, Will Smith will not be in it because he didn't want to do it at first," Emmerich tells the site in the promotional interview for his latest directing gig, "White House Down". "Now we have a meeting planned, we want to talk about it again. Anything can happen," he adds.

In June, Smith revealed he was planning to move away from blockbuster movies. "I think I'm going to start moving out of that and finding more danger in my artistic choices," he sounded certain. Not long after that, Emmerich confirmed the actor would indeed pass on the film, tentatively named "ID Forever Part 1".

"Will Smith cannot come back because he's too expensive, but he'd also be too much of a marquee name," the filmmaker said in an interview.

While Smith weighs whether or not to return, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman have been set to reteam with Emmerich.