'Independence Day: Resurgence' is an upcoming sequel to the 1996 film of the same name. It will be set in 2016 but will get an alternate universe timeline. Lead actor Jeff Goldblum is seen in full astronaut gear during filming in Los Angeles.
According to /Film, the upcoming sequel to the 1996 science-fiction film 'Independence Day' is set 20 years after the events of the War of 1996. However, in contrast to the 1996 film set in 1996, 'Independence Day: Resurgence' will have a wholly altered 2016. It was reported that the world created for the film will be an alternate universe of sorts, a different kind of 2016.
This alternate timeline is apparent in the film's various promotional materials, according to Cinema Blend. For instance, the official 'Independence Day' twitter account posted a photograph of a moon base created by humans in the year 2009. It was captioned, "2009: ESD Moon Base opens as Levinson presides over the ribbon cutting ceremony. #IDR https://WarOf1996.com."
A faux-historical website for War of 1996 was also launched in December chronicling the fictional major events that took place in between the years 1999 through 2016. The so-called War of 1996 was a full-scale alien invasion of Earth that destroyed 108 cities and cost millions of human lives. The new film follows the recovery of the international community with the formation of the Earth Space Defense (ESD) for the prevention of future extraterrestrial threats.
Jeff Goldblum is reprising is role as David Levinson, the Director of Earth Space Defense. According to The Daily Mail, the 63-year old actor was seen in full astronaut suit during filming in Los Angeles. In the first film, Goldblum's David was a key character in fighting off the alien threat.
He is joined by Bill Pullman, Vivica Fox, Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward, Judd Hirsch, William Fichtner and Brent Spiner in the upcoming follow-up. Will Smith, who played lead protagonist Captain Steven Hiller, will not be returning for a second time.
'Independence Day: Resurgence' is an upcoming science-fiction and action-adventure film intended as a follow-up to 1996's film of the same name. It is scheduled to be released on June 24, 2016. It is directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich based on a screenplay by Carter Blanchard.
