We’ve known for a few months now that the much rumored Independence Day 2 was a thing that was actually happening. As more news begins to come out about the film we begin to get a clearer picture of just how much is really going on here. William Fichtner has now been cast in a major role in ID2, as well as the two films that will follow.
Yes, you read that correctly. According to a report from Deadline, there are two more films planned after ID2, making the sequels a trilogy unto themselves. This information has come out because the character Fichtner has signed on to play, described as a "top general," will be an even larger role in the two follow up films than he will be in ID2.
William Fichtner has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, although you may not know his name. He’s been a character actor for decades, often playing straight laced military types or cops or villains, so this role looks like it’s right in his wheelhouse. He has been making a concerted effort to take on more high profile roles, however, this role follows closely on his turn as...whoever he was supposed to be in the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film.
Seriously we're still trying to figure this one out.
The idea that there will be more Independence Day movies isn’t exactly a shock. The word was Roland Emmerich originally wanted to produce a two part sequel filmed back to back, although the news was that Fox only greenlit the single movie. However, now it appears we may be looking at a third and fourth movie in the series. There’s no word where these additional films are in their life cycle. We don’t know if scripts exist or whether other cast members, like the returning Jeff Goldblum or Bill Pullman, are already signed for multiple films. Will there be back to back filming of these sequels after all?
A Roland Emmerich film is always a spectacle and now it appears that making them is going to be one as well. Are we on the verge of the "ID Cinematic Universe?" It seems petty to think we might be over doing this, especially in regards to a film that's a sequel already, but there you go. Regardless, it will be fun to see Fichtner in another big budget blockbuster, especially if at some point he diagnosis Jeff Goldblum with "space dementia." That’d be awesome.
