“Independence Day: Resurgence” star Jessie Usher; Michael Loccisano/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The aliens who invaded Earth in Independence Day are back 20 years later in the buzzed-about sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence.
The movie reunites stars like Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman from the original film, and adds newcomers like 24-year-old Jessie Usher, who landed his role in an unlikely way.
Usher goes to the same gym as the movie’s producer, who one day mentioned the Resurgence project in passing, Usher told ABC News’ Nick Watt.
“I’m a huge Will Smith fan, and I was like, ‘Oh, what? That’s crazy! You should put me in that,’ and here we are,” said Usher, who plays the son of Smith’s original Independence Day character, Capt. Steven Hiller.
Smith isn’t returning for Resurgence, which gave the movie’s director, Roland Emmerich, a new challenge: “In a way it sort of forced me to have this new concept of a new generation, which got me really excited,” he said.
Emmerich, who shot some of the film in New Mexico, also revealed why he wanted to bring the Independence Day blockbuster back to the big screen.
“The technology has advanced so much,” he said. “I want to do another Independence Day to show what I can really bring to the screen.”
Independence Day: Resurgence opens June 24.
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