Roland Emmerich Says Independence Day 2 Will Feature An Openly Gay Character
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As Roland Emmerich’s latest film, White House Down, invades theaters across the country, the German director is gearing up for the long-awaited sequel to his 1996 film Independence Day. Now that Twentieth Century Fox has set an official release date for the sequel, it will only be a matter of time before an official synopsis and cast of characters are announced. But according to the 57-year-old director, Independence Day 2 will feature one openly gay character.
In an interview with Huffington Post Live, Emmerich — a firm supporter and activist for LGBT equal rights as a gay man himself — said he will include an openly gay character in the tentatively titled ID: Forever Part 1 and Part 2. “Actually in the next Independence Day there is a gay character,” Emmerich says.
Although he has not divulged any more information about the new character, he did confirm that Bill Pullman will return for the new Independence Day sequel, and Jeff Goldblum is also expected to reprise his role as David Levinson. Unfortunately, Will Smith, who played Captain Steven Hiller, will not return for the sequel. As Emmerich explains, “He’s too expensive, but he’d also be too much of a marquee name.”
There is not much known about Independence Day 2‘s narrative or premise, but it is believed that it will take place as far into the fiction’s timeline as there will be between the original and sequel, 19 years after the events of the first Independence Day. Supposedly, the invading aliens return to Earth through a wormhole, seeking revenge.
Am I wrong in thinking that Harvey Fierstein’s character of Marty Gilbert from the original Independence Day was an openly gay character too?
Independence Day 2 will hit theaters everywhere on July 3, 2015, exactly 19 years after the original film was released in theaters.
