Independence Day 2 Is Looking To Cast Chronicle’s Michael B. Jordan
This article is more than 2 years old
While the sequel film might get pushed to summer 2016, Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day 2, aka ID: Forever – Part 1, is looking to add some new faces to its familiar cast. Actors Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman are expected to return for the sequel, while Will Smith will most likely not reprise his role as Captain Steven Hiller.
According to The Wrap, Independence Day 2 might cast actor Michael B. Jordan as one of its leads. Although the source doesn’t specifically mention whom Jordan would play, it is believed that he would play Hiller’s stepson Dylan, originally played by child actor Ross Bagley in the original film. We’re expecting to hear more official casting news closer to the holidays.
At the moment, Jordan is on Hollywood’s hot list. He gained recognition in last year’s Chronicle as a teenager coming to terms with his newly discovered superpowers, and is currently receiving critical acclaim and Academy Awards buzz for his leading role in the indie film Fruitvale Station. Jordan is also rumored to be joining the cast of the Fantastic Four reboot as Johnny “The Human Torch” Storm, while at the same time, being considered for a role in Star Wars: Episode VII. Adding Independence Day 2 to his roster of impressive movies would only grow his stock even more, especially if he were to be following in Will Smith’s footsteps in the new Independence Day sequel.
Jordan is a really good actor. He has a very similar charisma and fun-loving attitude as Will Smith, so you can easily see why he’s being considered for a possible role. The only thing that would be better is if Jordan is cast and Will Smith makes a cameo appearance. Smith’s career has taken a sharp decline after the release of the movie Seven Pounds in 2008, so his career could use the boost.
Independence Day 2 is currently set for release during the Fourth of July holiday in 2015, but comments from Emmerich suggest that the film might be pushed to summer 2016 instead. He explained that its current release date is merely a placeholder so another big summer blockbuster doesn’t move in to claim it. If Twentieth Century Fox and Emmerich don’t make up their minds about a production start, another film might just move into the July 2, 2016 slot anyway. But as it stands, Independence Day 2 is set to do battle with Terminator 5, which now opens on July 1, 2015.
Writer James Vanderbilt (White House Down, Zodiac) is penning the screenplay with Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. It’s believed that the story will pick up after the same amount of time as in the real world, about 20 years after the events of the first film, and will feature the aliens returning to Earth for round two. This time around, though, the humans are ready with new weapons based on technology left behind by the aliens during the first confrontation.
Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman would reprise their roles as computer genius David Levinson and former-President Thomas J. Whitmore, respectively. Hey, Roland Emmerich! Bring back President Whitmore’s daughter Patricia, played by Arrested Development and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’s Mae Whitman.
At the moment, Independence Day 2 is still scheduled to hit theaters on July 3, 2015.
