The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that director Roland Emmerich has finally begun casting for 20th Century Fox’s sci-fi sequel, Independence Day 2. The first confirmed actor is relatively unknown Jessie Usher who will play the son of Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) from the original film released in 1996. Although the son of Smith’s character will appear in the film, Smith has stated he would not be returning for the sequel due to the actor not keen on appearing in sequels of his own films, except for the Men in Black series apparently. Emmerich also confirmed on his personal Twitter and Facebook page that The Hunger Games actor Liam Hemsworth is in final negotiations to portray the son in law of President Thomas J. Whitmore, played by veteran actor Bill Pullman. One of the original cast members returning is actor Jeff Goldblum, who played ex-scientist turned cable technician David Levinson.
The story is being kept under wraps but inside sources reveal that the film does take place 20 years after the first invasion with the alien threat returning in full force to declare war on the planet Earth. Fox has set a June 24th, 2016 release date for Independence Day 2.