The first set of actors who are cast in the highly anticipated sequel of 1996's "Independence Day" has been announced, and it includes one original star who will reprise his iconic role in the film.
Film director Roland Emmerich announced in his Twitter account on Wednesday that "Hunger Games" star Liam Hemsworth will portray the lead role in the movie, and he will be joined by Jeff Goldblum, who will reprise his role as satellite expert David Levinson in the film.
Hemsworth will take over the lead from Will Smith who top-billed the original film almost 20 years ago, a title that earned over $800 million during its release. Smith is not expected to appear in the upcoming movie.
The Australian actor will reportedly portray the role of the son-in-law of President Thomas J. Whitmore, a character portrayed by Bill Pullman in the first "Independence Day" movie. However, there is no news yet if Pullman will also return to the sequel of the film.
The actors will join Jessie Usher of "Survivor's Remorse," who has been tapped to portray the role of Dylan Hiller, the son of Will Smith's character in the original film. His role was portrayed by Ross Bagley in the first movie.
Usher's character will play a central role in the sequel, which means that the plot will take off after the events of the first movie.
Science Fiction reported that the first film was originally conceptualized as a two-film deal, but the planned sequel did not push through until now. The new film will reportedly be a standalone installment penned by Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The report also claimed that the new story will feature a new alien invasion that takes place twenty years after the events in the first film.
"Independence Day 2" is slated to hit screens on June 24, 2016, one month earlier than the expected release date in July.
