With Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin locked in to make ID FOREVER, the sequel to INDEPENDENCE DAY, the only thing left is to find a star to take over from the departed Will Smith. While there are still rumors that Michael B. Jordan could join the cast, The Wrap has learned that the studio is currently offering THE HUNGER GAMES’ Liam Hemsworth the lead in the scifi blockbuster.
Carter Blanchard (GLIMMER) is writing the latest draft of the script and James Vanderbilt (THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) penned the previous one with the studio looking to begin production this year for a release next year. So far, all we know is that Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum are prepared to return to their INDEPENDENCE DAY roles. Beyond that, we don’t have any plot details. With Hemsworth poised to lead the film, there is an obvious youth factor in place to try and market this film to the same demographic that loved the 1996 original.
Usually, 20 years between films in a franchise does not make for a guaranteed success so bringing in the fans of Hemsworth’s THE HUNGER GAMES character would be a smart move. While I think his brother is the more talented actor, Liam is not awful. Plus, are we really going to expect INDEPENDENCE DAY to be a bastion of acting or an explosive popcorn flick full of aliens and mayhem. I mean, this is a Roland Emmerich film, right?
ID FOREVER is slated to open on July 4, 2016.