Instead of Will Smith heading up the long-awaited sequel to INDEPENDENCE DAY, it seems that the film will be fronted by some younger faces.
First, we got Liam Hemsworth as the son-in-law of Bill Pullman’s former president. Then, newcomer Jessie Usher signed on to play Dylan, the son of Vivica A. Fox’s character in the original ID4. Now, Travis Tope is in talks to play an as-yet-undisclosed role in Roland Emmerich’s 20-years-later sequel.
Tope has had showy roles in THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, and the last season of BOARDWALK EMPIRE, but this would easily be his highest-profile gig to date. He’s proven to be a strong, subtle actor who’s shown an adeptness at playing characters with their cards very close to their chests. We can only wait and see if his ID4 2 character will be similarly conflicted and angsty.
As for who he’ll play, I can’t speculate. I highly doubt they’ll be going the INDEPENDENCE DAY BABIES route and make him a previously-unmentioned son to Jeff Goldblum’s character, but I suppose it’s possible he could be the Harry Connick Jr. to Hemsworth’s Will Smith (a.k.a. the Goose role).
It was only yesterday that Vivica A. Fox’s casting made this film feel even more like a reality than ever, and it’s exciting to hear this finally coming to fruition. If this follow-up is going to replicate the ‘70s ensemble film casting of the first one, expect more well-known names to be announced in the near future as this gets ready to lens this summer.
Still holding out hope for Judd Hirsch…
INDEPENDENCE DAY 2 whups E.T.’s ass on June 24, 2016.
