'Independence Day 2' Cast Could Include Liam Hemsworth In Unspecified Lead Role

It looks like director Roland Emmerich’s upcoming “Independence Day” sequel will be pulling some star power from Panem. New reports indicate that “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” star Liam Hemsworth has been offered the lead role in the follow up to the 1996 blockbuster.

News of Hemsworths involvement in the project comes exclusively from The Wrap. However, producer Haral Kloser tweeted a picture of himself and Hemsworth on Oct. 31 of 2014 – lending clear evidence to the rumor that Hemsworth is, at the very least, in talks to be a part of the movie.

The “Hunger Games” star would inject some young blood into a film that’s principle cast has aged almost 20 years since defeating the alien threat in the first movie. So far, only Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldlum look like they’ll be reprising their roles from the 1996 film. Emmerich confirmed to New York Daily News that Will Smith will not return to the role that rocketed him to blockbuster stardom because, at this point in his career, hiring him simply costs too much.

“Will Smith cannot come back because he’s too expensive, but he’d also be too much of a marquee name,” the director told the outlet. “It would be too much.”

Precious little is known about the plot of the movie, which is expected to be split into two parts. However, speaking to Entertainment Weekly in March 2013, Emmerich revealed a few details about where we find the world of “Independence Day” 20 years after the initial alien attack.

“The humans knew that one day the aliens would come back,” he said. “And they know that the only way you can really travel in space is through wormholes. So for the aliens, it could take two or three weeks, but for us that’s 20 or 25 years.”

With the alien threat returning, a new generation of heroes has to step up and save the world this time around. This is where actors like Hemsworth would be a big get for the sequel, especially since he’s no stranger to big-budget action movies like “The Expendables 2.” In addition to the 25-year-old, The Wrap previously reported that Michael B. Jordan is also being considered for an unspecified roll in the movie. Emmerich has stated in the past that Will Smith’s stepson in the movie (originally played by Ross Bagley) might be among the new blood that saves Earth. It’s possible that, although Smith won’t appear in the film, his character’s presence will still loom large over the franchise. That is, if Jordan is not too busy co-starring in Fox’s “Fantastic Four” Reboot.

The sequel for “Independence Day,” tentatively titled “ID Forever Part 1” is currently scheduled for a June 24, 2016 release date.