It has been almost 20 years since Roland Emmerich released he massive hit alien invasion film Independence Day to theaters, and in 2016, a long-awaited sequel will be released.  The film has recently had its official title released and it will be called: Independence Day Resurgence or IDR.  This is what we know about the Independence Day 2 release date, cast, and other news. 

According to Yahoo Movies, Roland Emmerich, director or the original film and several other disaster films like Godzilla (1998), The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012 has shared what the movie will be about.  It will take place 20 years after the first movie, and the human race is apparently united to organize a kind of global defense system using the alien technology leftover from "The War of '96".  Emmerich describes that the world after the first alien invasion has become a "post-World generation that's unified, and that's amazing to see a world come together with a common enemy.  That's a resurgence". 

Returning cast members include Jeff Golblum, who is once again playing David Levinson.  David was massively promoted after saving the world and is the director of the new initiative.  Also back is Bill Pullman, who played the president Thomas Whitmore in the first film, and is probably some kind of ex-presidential figure in this post-war world.  Judd Hirsch will also reprise his role as Julius Levinson, the father and of David Levinson.  There is also a report that Brent Spiner, who looked like he had died in the first film, will also show up. 

One character who will definitely not be returning is Steven Hiller, who was played by Will Smith.  It is odd that Smith didn't return, as the original film launched his film career into mega-stardom.  There was a 2013 by the Huffington Post that revealed that two scripts for Independence Day 2 had been written, and Will Smith's character did not appear in one.  The reason for Smith's departure was due to the story element of a father/son dynamic in a science fiction setting, which was already a dismal failure with the film After Earth, according to Cinema Blend. 

Now that Smith is not in the sequel, it means the story won't have to revolve around the megastar, as Independence Day worked with an ensemble cast.  Jessie Usher will be playing Dylan Hiller, the son of Will Smith's character all grown up, in the film, and Vivica A. Fox will also be reprising her role as his mother, Jasmine.  There are reports that there will be good reasons for Will Smith's character not to be in the film, and they will be honorable ones. 

There are some new cast-mates like Liam Hemsworth, who will play a forklift operator working on a moonbase.  Maika Monroe will play the daughter of president Whitmore (also grown up) who works at the White House for a president who will be played by Sela Ward.  Other stars who will appear will be William Fichtner and Charlotte Gainsbourg. 

Independence Day: Resurgence will be hitting theaters on June 24, 2016.  From what it looks like, there will be either a new alien threat or perhaps the old ones seeking revenge.  There isn't much word on that front.