Independence Day: Resurgence Information

Independence Day: Resurgence is an upcoming 2016 American science fiction disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich, and written by Emmerich, Dean Devlin and Carter Blanchard. It is the sequel to the 1996 film Independence Day. The film stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox and Brent Spiner, reprising their original roles, along with newcomers Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward, Angelababy, Joey King, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Patrick St. Esprit and William Fichtner. The film is scheduled for a June 24, 2016 release. Filming began on April 20, 2015 and ended on August 22, 2015.

Premise

Twenty years after the events of the first film, the international community recovers and the United Nations creates the Earth Space Defense (ESD), a united global defense program that serves as Earth's early warning system and the main defense force using technology salvaged from remains of the alien forces, with some military forces assembled on the Moon. However, the aliens were able to send a distress signal to their other battalions before their final defeat while others went into hiding elsewhere around the world. The aliens in deep space receive the signal and send a larger battle fleet, threatening the human race once more.

Cast

• Jeff Goldblum as David Levinson, a scientist and the Director of Earth Space Defense (ESD)
• Bill Pullman as former President Thomas J. Whitmore, widower of Marilyn Whitmore, Patricia's father, and a Persian Gulf War veteran.
• Liam Hemsworth as Jake Morrison, a U.S. pilot serving in ESD and Patricia's love interest. His parents were killed in the first attack. He grew up in an orphanage and later joins the military to become one of the best fighter pilots. Hemsworth watched the original film when he was six years old on VHS.
• Jessie Usher as Dylan Dubrow-Hiller, stepson of the war hero Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and Jasmine Dubrow, and a pilot in ESD.
• Maika Monroe as Patricia Whitmore, the former First Daughter, a pilot in ESD, and Jake's love interest
• Sela Ward as President Elizabeth Lanford, Thomas J. Whitmore's latest successor as President of the United States and the first woman in the country's history to hold the Oval Office. About her character she said, "She's strong, decisive and not afraid to kick ass!".
• Judd Hirsch as Julius Levinson, David's father
• Angelababy as Rain, a female Chinese pilot in ESD
• Joey King as Sam
• Vivica A. Fox as Jasmine Dubrow-Hiller, widow of the former war hero Steven Hiller, and a former stripper who is now working as a hospital administrator.
• Brent Spiner as Dr. Brackish Okun
• Charlotte Gainsbourg as Dr. Catherine Marceaux
• Patrick St. Esprit as Tanner, the U.S. Secretary of Defense
• William Fichtner as General Adams

Chin Han portrays the leader of the Chinese Space Squadron. DeObia Oparei, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Travis Tope, Samantha Logan and Mckenna Grace portray Dikembe, Agent Travis, Charlie, Anissa and Daisy, respectively. Karl Stefanovic makes an appearance as himself, an Australian television reporter.

Production

The possibility of a sequel to Independence Day had long been discussed, and the film's producer and writer, Dean Devlin, once stated that the world's reaction to the September 11 attacks influenced him to strongly consider making a sequel to the film. Devlin began writing an outline for a script with Emmerich, but in May 2004, Emmerich said he and Devlin had attempted to "figure out a way how to continue the story", but that this ultimately did not work, and the pair abandoned the idea. In October 2009, Emmerich said he once again had plans for a sequel, and has since considered the idea of making two sequels to form a trilogy. On June 24, 2011, Devlin confirmed that he and Emmerich had found an idea for the sequels and have written a treatment for it. In October 2011, however, discussions for Smith returning were halted, due to Fox's refusal to provide the $50 million salary demanded by Smith for the two sequels. Emmerich, however, made assurances that the films would be shot back-to-back, regardless of Smith's involvement. In July 2012, Devlin reiterated that the Independence Day sequel was still in development, and the script would take place in 2012, 16 years after the original film's events.

In March 2013, Emmerich stated that the titles of the new films would be ID Forever Part I and ID Forever Part II. The films will take place twenty years after the original, when reinforcements of the original alien race arrive at Earth after finally receiving a distress call. The new films will focus on the next generation of heroes, including the stepson of Smith's character in the original film. In May 2013, Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin mentioned that wormholes would be used as a plot device in ID Forever. On May 29, 2014, it was announced that the script for the first sequel written by Emmerich and Devlin would be rewritten by Carter Blanchard. On November 26, 2014, Deadline confirmed that Fox had greenlit the single film, and they were in talks with Emmerich to direct the film, while casting was reported to begin after Emmerich's confirmation. The full title, Independence Day: Resurgence, was revealed on June 22, 2015. Returns, Retaliation, Rises, and Requiem were all considered to along with the title before settling with Resurgence.

Casting

On June 24, 2011 it was announced that both Emmerich and Devlin had the desire for Will Smith to return for the sequels. In May 2013, Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin said that they would like Jeff Goldblum to reprise his role from the original. In June 2013, Emmerich confirmed to the Daily News that Will Smith is not returning to the sequel because "he"?s too expensive". Smith's absence in the movie is explained as his character, Capt. Steven Hiller, died in a test of a new experimental fighter designed with alien technology. Later in June, it was officially confirmed that both Goldblum and Pullman would return in the sequel, and that a gay character would be prominently featured. On September 26, 2013, actor Michael B. Jordan was said to have been considered for a role in the film. On January 27, 2015, casting began by Fox offering the lead role to Liam Hemsworth. Charlotte Gainsbourg was in talks to join the film's cast, revealed by THR on March 20, 2015. Newcomer Travis Tope was set on March 25, 2015 to play the role of Charlie. On March 3, 2015, director Emmerich confirmed via Twitter that Vivica A. Fox would reprise the role of Jasmine Dubrow, her character from the previous film. Same day, Jessie Usher was added to the cast to portray the role of the stepson of Smith's character. Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman were also set to reprise their roles from the previous film. Maika Monroe signed on to star in the film on April 27, 2015. Sela Ward's casting as the new President of the United States was confirmed on May 4, 2015. On May 13, 2015, Mckenna Grace also joined the film to play Daisy. On May 19, 2015, Patrick St. Esprit was cast as Secretary of Defense Tanner. On May 29, 2015, William Fichtner was cast as a General, a role that will be larger in the next two films. The casting of Angelababy was announced on Twitter by Emmerich on June 3, 2015.

Filming

In November 2014, the production was scheduled to begin in May 2015. Filming was scheduled to begin on May 5, 2015 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to Twitter accounts of King and Devlin, filming began on April 20, 2015. Filming wrapped on August 22, 2015. Filming of additional scenes is taking place in early 2016 in Los Angeles. Some scenes have also been filmed in London, at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and Singapore's Marina Bay Sands.

Release

The film was originally going to be released on July 3, 2015. On November 12, 2013, it was announced that the first sequel had been rescheduled for a July 2016 release. On October 14, 2014, Fox changed the release date to June 24, 2016.

Marketing

Titan Books announced that they will publish several tie-in books for the film, including novels and comics. The first, an omnibus which collects Stephen Molstad's three Independence Day novels Silent Zone, War in the Desert, and the novelization of Independence Day, was released in March, 2016. The second, Independence Day: Crucible, will be written by Greg Keyes. Crucible serves as a prequel to the upcoming film and will be published in May. A novelization of Independence Day: Resurgence by Alex Irvine will follow in June. Titan Comics announced a comic book prequel, set between the first and second film, will be released as well.

On December 13, 2015, the first trailer was released by 20th Century Fox. A TV spot was shown during Super Bowl 50 on February 7th.