.

.

UPDATE: According to DigitalSpy, a representative for Will Smith’s has denied that the star has signed for two sequels. Speaking to Gossip Cop, Smith’s rep said that a report about the Oscar nominee returning for back-to back-follow-ups to the 1996 hit is “not true at this time”.  We’ll keep you posted if this changes again. Below is the original article… which now may or may not have some truth to it.

Love it or hate it, INDEPENDENCE DAY made a buttload of money for 20th Century Fox back in 1996, pretty much owning the summer movie scene that year, and making even more ridiculous cash on home video.  Since then there’s been many rumors through the years that a sequel would happen, and even rumors of false starts.  I think we all assumed by now that it just wasn’t going to happen.  Well, it looks like now Fox may be reconsidering, especially since their 2009 juggernaut AVATAR is looking to be at least four years away from a part 2, and the studio needs another big summer blockbuster to hold their theatrical position in strong standing.  IESB is reporting that an ID4 sequel may now be in the cards, and seriously moving forward.  They apparently received a tip that Will Smith is now locked for a second AND third INDEPENDENCE DAY installment.  Their saying the plan is to shoot both films back-to-back.  The space between films is undetermined at this point.  Their sources indicated that shooting could begins as early as 2011, if all goes according to plan.

It is presumed that producer Dean Devlin and director Roland Emmerich (the dynamic duo behind the first film) would both be back, and this would be Emmerich’s next directorial effort following his William Shakespeare thriller titled ANONYMOUS.  Will Smith is currently slated to do either THE CITY THAT SAILED or MEN IN BLACK 3, and this would be done after those so as not to put him behind schedule.

Considering the original INDEPENDENCE DAY made just shy of a billion dollars worldwide, and surpassed that number counting home video sales, Fox no doubt sees this as their second biggest bankable franchise (after AVATAR).  Needless to say, they’re most likely looking at the idea of sequels as safe money, and Will Smith is still a solid bankable star in the box office.  I for one really enjoyed ID4, just for the big summer popcorn movie aspect of it, and though some of it hasn’t aged quite as gracefully as one would hope, I still find it fun on repeat viewings.  Now the question is who amongst the original cast would return?  Actors like Bill Pullman, Vivica A. Fox, Jeff Goldblum, Margaret Colin, Robert Loggia, Judd Hirsch, and CHUCK‘s Adam Baldwin were all left alive at the end of the original, so any of them could safely return.  We can assume Pullman would no longer be President, but could certainly show up to call in some favors.  Goldblum would be a welcome return, if for no other reason than to continue the “buddy” chemistry between his character and Will’s.  There’s also several advances in technology to be considered, and after all of the national landmarks that were destroyed in the first one, would 9-11 be acknowledged?

IESB did note they’re still awaiting confirmation from Fox and other sources, who as of this writing have not yet been able to confirm or deny their story.  They’re saying despite this coming from a reliable source, this needs to be considered “Rumor” for now.  Are you excited at the idea of an INDEPENDENCE DAY sequel?  How about two?  Tell us in the comments below.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
•