Independence Day 2: Latest Casting News, Plot Details, And Premiere Date

Independence Day is perhaps the most beloved of the ‘90s disaster movies. It features Will Smith at the peak of his powers, still toward the beginning of his winning streak, the always welcomed stammering of Jeff Goldblum, and a surprisingly great performance from Bill Pullman as a powerful movie U.S. president, not to mention all of the explosions and devastation that a 145-minute movie can handle. A plan for a sequel has been turning around in co-writer Dean Devlin’s head since the 9/11 attacks, but director Roland Emmerich fiddled with other portrayals of disaster until a strong story struck him.

Now it appears that story has been found, and Emmerich and Devlin are hard at work on Independence Day 2. Further, it seems that the brand won’t stop there, as there are subsequent sequels being mapped out as well.

We have everything you need to know about Independence Day 2 right here.

Independence Day 2 Latest News

After years of nothing much happening at all, Independence Day 2 is finally shooting, with its release set for next year. Recently, William Fichtner signed on to the disaster flick as a general expected to appear not only in Independence Day 2, but its subsequent sequels. Also Manika Monroe, from the new throwback horror-flick It Follows, has joined the cast in an unspecified role.

Keep checking back for updates on Independence Day 2.

Independence Day 2 Cast

Director Roland Emmerich has revealed members of the cast over Twitter, such as Brent Spiner.

Spiner, of course, is best known for his wonderful turn in Star Trek: The Next Generation and its movie spin-offs, but you may remember that he also had a prominent role as Dr. Brackish Okun in the original Independence Day. With long hair, glasses, and the wild expression of a scientist who's spent far too long tinkering with alien tech in a New Mexico bunker, Spiner was almost recognisable in the role.

In the same tweet, Emmerich also revealed that Joey King, best known for her roles in Oz The Great And Powerful and Emmerich's White House Down, is also joining the cast of Independence Day 2. 

Jeff Goldblum will indeed be back for the new film, reprising the role of David Levinson in it. Furthermore, Liam Hemsworth had been rumoured for a leading role in the movie, and Roland Emmerich has now confirmed he is indeed part of the cast. Hemsworth's character is believed to be the son-in-law of President Whitmore from the original film. Bill Pullman, who played Whitmore, is also expected to return.

In March, Charlotte Gainsbourg joined the cast, as well as Jessie Usher, best known so far for the TV show Survivor's Remorse. Usher is reportedly taking on a lead role in Independence Day 2. Specifically, he's going to be playing Dylan Hiller, the son of Will Smith's character from the first Independence Day. Here's Jessie Usher, in case you've not met him before...

We also know that Sela Ward (CSI: NY) will be playing the new President of the United States and DeObia Oparei (Game of Thrones) will be portraying Dikembe, an Oxford-educated son of an African warlord.

Expect more casting news as Roland Emmerich continues shooting.

Independence Day 2 Plot Details

Thus far, most of the recent chatter about the project has been to do with the casting of it, specifically that Will Smith won't be returning to the lead role. But over at Film Divider, a few other details about the film have come to light.

It reports that the focus will once again be on "different small groups in their separate, awful situations," and that amongst the characters returning for the new movie will be those played by Judd Hirsch, Vivica A Fox and - of course - Jeff Goldblum. The hint is that we're going to see some of the impact of the first film on those characters' lives.

That said, a new younger cast is also being recruited, playing characters that have grown up in the aftermath of the alien invasion from the first Independence Day.

Patricia Whitmore - the President's daughter - is grown up in this one, and she and her boyfriend sound like they're going to be sizeable characters. Said boyfriend will be a "hotshot pilot," and the pair will be around 20 years old. The younger cast are likely to "be the focal point of the action," and the filmmakers are also said to be on the lookout for a "comic relief sidekick."

That said, there's going to be a new love interest for Jeff Goldblum's character too, according to the report.

Back when Will Smith was still a possible inclusion in the movie as Captain Hiller, there would have been room for his daughter and stepson. Hiller at one stage was set to be US President in Independence Day 2, but that idea has since been scrapped. His screen offspring may still appear.

As for the basic storyline? It looks like we're going to get "the same generation of invaders against the next generation of Earth's defense." Humans will have researched and been using the alien technology left behind after the last one, and will be set to use it against the invaders this time.

Lots could, of course, change by the time Independence Day 2 makes its summer 2016 bow, but that appears to be the state of the project right now. You can get further details over at Film Divider, here.

Independence Day 2 Release Date

Roland Emmerich started shooting Independence Day 2 this May, with the film set to arrive in cinemas on June 24th 2016, 20 years after the release of the original. 

We'll keep you up to date with further Independence Day 2 developments...

THR.