While promoting his new film WHITE HOUSE DOWN to the NY Daily News, filmmaker Roland Emmerich had this interesting little detail to say about INDEPENDENCE DAY 2, which was finally confirmed to much excitement on Friday…

“Will Smith cannot come back because he’s too expensive. But he’d also be too much of a marquee name. It would be too much.”

Not sure when “too much” has every applied to an Emmerich film, but hey-ho. Clearly Smith’s people have talked about his return in the past, and had out-priced himself. Wonder if he’ll be willing to lower his fee now that he’s fresh off the costly dud that was AFTER EARTH? We shall see. So who of the old guard will be returning? Roland’s not saying, but did offer the following…

“We have like maybe half of the people that you would know from the first film. And the other half are people who are new.”

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2 is scheduled to open July 3rd 2015. 

Share your comments below or on Twitter @STARBURST_MAG

Find your local Starburst Magazine stockist HERE, or buy direct from us HERE. Our issues are also available as fully interactive iPad editions, loaded with multimedia, and can be downloaded via Apple HERE.

Click To Buy