Sequels to massive summer blockbusters arrive in theaters with a built-in audience who, like most people, want to see a story to its conclusion. An added bonus for those same moviegoers is when studios manage to corral the same actors back into the fold. You know, so you’re not left wondering why Tony Stark’s dad looks loads different to the last time you saw him. Luckily, Roland Emmerich has for the most part convinced the cast of Independence Day to reprise their roles for its sequel Independence Day 2 (which may be called Independence Day Forever: Part 1).
While Will Smith has turned down offers to star (’cause he’s busy filming a little movie called Suicide Squad), the majority of his onscreen chums have said yes to those same exact opportunities. Jeff Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox and even Brent Spiner have signed on for another battle with the extraterrestrials. And now so have Bill Pullman and Judd Hirsch!
Today we celebrate our #IndependenceDay sequel. Welcome back, Bill Pullman. pic.twitter.com/hR3qisg70i
— Roland Emmerich (@rolandemmerich) April 17, 2015
It’s official… we’re thrilled to have the GREAT Judd Hirsch grace the set of #IndependenceDay once again! pic.twitter.com/vSIEQsZwjb
— Roland Emmerich (@rolandemmerich) April 17, 2015
Pullman will be back as President Thomas J. Whitmore, the country’s Commander-in-Chief who isn’t afraid to deliver tear-jerking speeches whilst striking manly poses in the back of jeeps. As the father of Goldblum’s character, Hirsch is set to reprise his role as Julius Levinson.
That original clutch of returning characters join a stream of newcomers to the popcorn franchise. Adding a fresh quartet to the story, Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), Jessie Usher (When The Game Stands Tall) and Travis Tope (Boardwalk Empire) are locked in to star alongside the most unlikely candidate for a sci-fi blockbuster – Charlotte Gainsbourg (Anti-christ, Melancholia).
Due to arrive next summer to coincide with the first movie’s twenty-year anniversary, Independence Day 2 opens on June 24, 2016.
