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Roland Emmerich Says Jeff Goldblum Will Be In the ID4 Sequel, Gives You a Reason to Watch It Whether You Wanted One Or Not

And All Was Right With the World

But which other, less-relevant-to-our-interests actors than Jeff Goldblum (just being honest) have and haven’t left their alien-fighting days behind them? Hit the jump to find out.

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Via Erik Davis of Movies.com, who moderated a Q&A with director Roland Emmerich:

When I pressed him on who those returning characters are, he said Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman are on board so far… No word on how either man factors into the plot of the sequel, which Emmerich has said is “unusual.”

Yes, but will Pullman’s President (presumably ex-President by this point, as the two-part sequel is said to take place between 20 and 25 years after the first movie) give an inspiring speech? What am I saying? Of course he will. And Goldblum’s scientist will make geek hearts go pitter-patter. It is known.

As for who won’t be returning, that would be Will Smith, whom Emmerich says is “too expensive.” That seems a little off to me, because if you’re going to do an Independence Day sequel you should really go big (in terms of budget, set pieces, etc.) or go home. But money isn’t the only reason. Says Emmerich:

“Will Smith can not come back because he’s too expensive, but he’d also be too much of a marquee name… It would be too much. We have like maybe half of the people that you know would know from the first film (in the script) and the other half people who are new.”

According to Movies.com Emmerich wants Smith to have a cameo so he can “pass the torch” to a new generation of alien-punchers, but he has yet to present the script to him. That would be great and all, but I’m more interested in whether Judd Hirsch will be back.

The answer to that should be “yes,” Roland, by the way.

(via: blastr, io9)

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