Independence Day 2 lands release date

The long-awaited sequel to alien invasion spectacular ‘Independence Day’ is finally in sight, with a just short of predictable release date announced for 3 July 2015.

Welcome back to Earth…

[The Will Smith Effect: UFOs and Hollywood]

The first of two sequels, reportedly named ‘ID Forever Part 1’ and ‘ID Forever Part II’, will be released 19 years and one day after Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum first kicked alien ass in the name of the planet.

Original director Roland Emmerich recently spoke to EW about the details: “The humans knew that one day the aliens would come back, and they know that the only way you can really travel in space is through wormholes,” said the upcoming ‘White House Down’ filmmaker. “So for the aliens, it could take two or three weeks, but for us that’s 20 or 25 years.

‘ID Forever’ will focus on some of the original characters as well as a younger cast. “It’s a little bit like the sons take over,” Emmerich explained.

Bill Pullman has already confirmed his fighter pilot-turned-President will be making an appearance, with Emmerich and long-time producer pal Dean Devlin though to be seeking tech-savvy savior Goldblum for the sequel too.

[Emmerich reveals details of Independence Day sequel]

It was rumoured that Will Smith would be asking for a $50 million (£32 million) fee to return as Captain Steven Hiller, including secured roles for his children, Jaden and Willow. Although reports are yet to be confirmed, the recent bombing of ‘After Earth’ could give the Smiths a kick in the right direction.

Emmerich has previously revealed how the events of the 1996 movie would create a “parallel history’ for the sequel: “[Humans] have harnessed all this alien technology. We don’t know how to duplicate it because it’s organically-grown technology, but we know how to take an anti-gravity device and put it in a human airplane.”

Excited to see E.T. return for a second round? Let us know in the comments below.