'Independence Day 2' News: Summer 2016 Release Date and Casting Details
With the sequel to the classic 1996 sci-fi disaster box office success, "Independence Day" hitting theaters in the middle of 2016, reports have emerged on the upcoming movie's new and returning cast.
"Independence Day 2," the sequel to the 1996 second highest-grossing film worldwide, will be arriving in theaters on June 24, 2016, and while Will Smith isn't returning for the second movie, a number of the cast from the original are returning to do the sequel.
Jeff Goldblum, who played MIT computer geek, David Levinson, is reprising his role in 20th Century Fox's highly anticipated sequel, taking the lead this time after his co-lead from the first film, Will Smith (US Marine Corps pilot, Captain Steven Hiller) apparently proved "too expensive" to hire, following his demand for a $50 million salary to do two sequels for "ID."
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Bill Pullman, who played US President Thomas J. Whitmore, has confirmed his participation in "ID2," as well, and since the sequel is taking place 20 years after the events in the first movie, it is likely his role wouldn't be as Commander-in-Chief of the United States.
Among the new cast, "The Hunger Games" star, Liam Hemsworth will be joining "ID2" in a co-lead role. Speculations surrounding the sequel point to him as playing Bill Pullman's nephew.
"Survivor's Remorse" actor, Jessie Usher will also be playing a central role as Capt. Steven Hiller's grown up son. Whether he will be appearing as Vivica Fox's son (she had a role as Hiller's single-mom-exotic-dancer girlfriend in the original movie), or Smith's own biological son not previously mentioned in the first film, is yet to be established.
While it is assumed "ID2" will offer audiences a fresh alien menace to look forward to, details on the Roland Emmerich-helmed sequel's plot remain sketchy at present.
Fans of the original movie are continuing to root for the return of President Whitmore's daughter and Russell Casse's kids from the original film to make a comeback in the sequel, as well. With "ID" grossing over $800 million worldwide, the sequel has the original's reputation and an Oscar award for Best Visual Effects to live up to.
