The sequel to blockbuster Independence Day will provide “more spectacle than we have ever seen”, star Jeff Goldblum has promised.
The original film, which was released in 1996, saw Goldblum and Will Smith battle to save the world from an alien invasion and the sequel will pick up 20 years later.
The title of the reboot – Independence Day: Resurgence – was announced by director Roland Emmerich on the set of the sequel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Goldblum returns to his role of David Levinson, who is now in charge of an operation known as Earth Space Defence.
He said: “Besides all the spectacle, which will be more than you have ever seen, it is Roland’s humanistic sweetness that has been reignited in a story about people.”
He promised the weaponry on display will be even more impressive, saying: “We harvest alien technology and merge it with our own.”
Smith will not return for the sequel and Emmerich explained why the Hollywood superstar will not resume his role of Captain Steve Hiller.
The spectacle will be more than you have ever seen
“In the very beginning I wanted to work with him and he was excited to be in it but then after a while he was tired of sequels and he did another science fiction film, which was his father-son story, so he opted out.
“I was at first very disappointed but friends told me this could be a great chance to try something new and it took me three years to figure it out.
“Now it’s a handover and we deal with the disappearance of Will Smith in a very respectful way; he is still part of this universe.”
Emmerich added that the events of the original film have created a ‘post-world-war’ generation in the sequel, who are united against a common threat.
Jessie Usher, who steps into the role of Captain Hiller’s son Dylan, said: “He grew up in the world that his dad saved. You can only imagine what being the son of the world’s saviour is like, he is under that shadow.”
Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth plays newcomer Jake Morrison, who drives a lunar forklift truck known as a ‘moon tug’.
He said: “It’s kind of unlucky how he ends up in that ship. Jake lost his parents in the first attack, he grew up in an orphanage, and eventually joined the military and became a fighter pilot, and eventually became one of the best fighter pilots. I think his ego kind of got in the way, he made a bad decision and put someone’s life at risk, and he got the great job of driving this moon tug, which is basically a forklift on the moon.”
Before gathering the cast for a group selfie on set in front of the huge moon tug, Goldblum explained the work his character is doing as the head of the Earth Space Defence.
“It’s my job to lead the way in making sure everyone is safe on this precious planet. Having faced that last challenge, we’re all working in a beautiful way under one goal.”
Independence Day: Resurgence is due to be released next year.