While director Roland Emmerich has his latest summer blockbuster “White House Down” to concern himself with, he can’t escape the question that inevitably follows him to every media event he attends — what’s up with the sequel to “Independence Day”? The Daily News recently caught up with Emmerich to get the latest scoop on the often suggested sequel, and this time, he revealed that a certain iconic star would not be returning.
Though Emmerich’s films are known for being big budget spectacles, there’s apparently one thing he can’t afford: Will Smith. Emmerich told the paper that “Will Smith cannot come back because he’s too expensive, but he’d also be too much of a marquee name.” Obviously you wouldn’t want star power distracting the viewers from the glorious CGI. He went on to add that, “We have like maybe half of the people that you know from the first film (in the script) and the other half of the people are new.” AKA: The ones who are still cheap and affordable, apparently.
The sequel to the 1996 hit is set to be released on July 3, 2015, and Emmerich once again hopes that the new film will be the first part of a two-part story. James Vanderbilt (“Zodiac”) is currently touching up the latest script.
Meanwhile, the filmmaker is currently running the promotional circuit for his latest film, “White House Down.” The film features Channing Tatum as a Secret Service Agent trying to save the President (Jamie Foxx) when terrorists take over the White House. The film comes out this Friday, June 28th, and two more clips have arrived to give you another tease. Check them out!
