Fox is moving forward with an Independence Day sequel. According to reports, 20th Century Fox just gave a green light to the Independence Day sequel. The movie is expected to production in May, and the studio is currently planning to hire Roland Emmerich to direct the sequel. Emmerich is most known for large-scale disaster films including Independence Day (1996), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 2012 (2009). But, the biggest surprise is that Will Smith will not be returning for the sequel.
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Casting directors will begin casting after 20th Century makes a deal with Roland Emmerich and reports suggest that the movie will be broken up into two parts.
Casting will begin after they lock Emmerich, and I’m told by Fox insiders they will be making a single film. There had been speculation we might see two films shot back-to-back, but Fox only greenlighted one.
Indpendence Day is expected to be released on July 4, 2016 on the 20th anniversary of the 1996 original movie. Independence Day featured Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Margaret Colin, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, James Rebhorn, Vivica A. Fox, and Harry Connick, Jr.
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Independence Day focused on a group of people who converge in the Nevada desert in the aftermath of a destructive alien attack and, along with the rest of the human population, participate in a last-chance counterattack on July 4, the same date as the Independence Day holiday in the United States. The screenplay was written by Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin. Emmerich and Dean Devlin are expected to reprise their roles as director and producers, respectively.
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Independence Day made over $800 million in the box office and later won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, and was also nominated for Best Sound Mixing.
Filming for the original Independence Day took place in New York City in 1996. There is no word if the movie will film in NYC again.