‘Independence Day 2′ Titled ‘Independence Day Resurgence’; Set Images Revealed
The sequel to Independence Day – which starred Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum as members of a resistance against a massive invading alien force – has been in the works for some time. Director Roland Emmerich is returning for the sequel, as are a number of actors, including Goldblum, Vivica A. Fox, Bill Pullman, Brent Spiner, and Judd Hirsch. While Smith isn’t reprising his role, Jessie Usher will be playing his son, Maika Monroe will be playing Pullman’s daughter, and Liam Hemsworth will be playing an altogether new (lead) character.
Today, during a livestream, the title of the sequel was finally revealed (watch the video above), as were a few images from the set of the film and plot/character details from the cast and crew.
First, check out the images below:
The first image gives us a clear, vibrant look at the film’s logo, which looks very similar to the poster revealed earlier this month at the Las Vegas Expo. The following two images feature the “Moon Tug,” a forklift-like machine that’s giving me flashbacks to Aliens. We can probably go ahead and assume that it’ll be used in at least one setpiece during the film, probably involving Liam Hemsworth, given what was revealed by the cast and crew.
Speaking of those details (via THR), here’s what we know so far about the film from the livestream:
- Emmerich said the reason the film is called Resurgence is because, in the years since the war of the first film, the world has come together to fight against a common enemy.
- Jeff Goldblum’s character – David Levinson – is the director of the new initiative. It’s his job to lead the way in making sure the world is safe.
- Sela Ward is playing the new president of the United States. Ward said on the livestream that she’s tougher, more forceful, and more decisive than Bill Pullman’s character was.
- Maika Monroe, daughter to Bill Pullman’s character, works with the new president and is also a fighter pilot. Said Monroe: “I’m kind of a badass, I think.”
- Newcomer Liam Hemsworth is playing an orphan whose parents died in the first war. He eventually joined the military and became one of the best pilots they had, but he made some mistakes and was demoted to driving a “Moon Tug” (image above) on the new initiative’s lunar outpost.
- Jessie Usher’s character – the son of Will Smith’s Captain Hiller – is definitely living in the shadow of his father, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Said Usher: “He took it for what it was and made the most of it.“
- In the 20 years since the first film, Vivica A. Fox’s character has moved on from her previous life as a stripper – now she’s a hospital administrator and she’s saving lives.
- Finally, Brent Spiner’s character – who was turned into an alien meat puppet in the first film (many assumed he was dead) – will be just as manic and excitable as he was in the first film. Interestingly, when asked if his character was actually alive, he apparently sidestepped the question.
What with all the talk of the world coming together and living in peace, I wonder if that means there won’t be any political discord among the various groups that make up the new initiative. Has Earth become something of a true utopia, or are there cracks in the foundation? Furthermore, how many years has it been since we’ve had contact with the aliens? Has it been 20 years? Or was that the last big battle we experience?
There’s a lot take in here. One of the more interesting things about this film will be the way in which humanity has taken the alien technology and used it for their own advances, sort of like an alternate timeline to our own. The Moon Tug is clearly a glimpse at that, but I’m looking forward to seeing more.
What say you, Screen Ranters? Do you like what you see of Resurgence? Are you looking forward to this sequel? Drop us a line in the comments.
We always knew they were coming back. After ‘Independence Day’ redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.
Independence Day Resurgence hits theaters June 24th, 2016.
Source: 20th Century Fox, THR
