Jeff Goldblum And Liam Hemsworth Sign Up For ‘Independence Day’ Without Will Smith

Jeff Goldblum is officially signed up for Independence Day. Goldblum won’t have Will Smith with him this time around, which isn’t surprising since the production around this sequel has been open about Smith’s reluctance. That said, what is kind of surprising is the inclusion of Liam Hemsworth.

According to Ain’t It Cool News, Hemsworth might be the nephew of Bill Pullman’s character or his son in law. Right now there’s no confirmation on his role in the film, but we do know that Bill Pullman is definitely going to make an appearance. We also know that whatever Hemsworth’s role is it’s going to be billed as a co-lead.

Back in January of 2013 Bill Pullman spoke about the developments of the sequel. At that point the question about whether or not Will Smith would come back for the film was still very much up in the air. At the time Pullman said, “The Will Smith part of it may be ongoing but I think there’s strategies for both. I like what I have to do in both of them.”

The actor, who played the president in Independence Day went on to give an idea of what his own return might look like. “I’m not in an old age home in a wheelchair being wheeled out for one more moment. It’s a very interesting conception of what happens to Whitmore between then and when it picks back up.”

As for Goldblum, not much is known about his inclusion, but he will be back as David Levinson. The only thing that has been confirmed is the casting of Jessie Usher, who will play the son of Will Smith’s character Steven Hiller.

The news of Jessie Usher’s casting on the project hit the news yesterday via the Hollywood Reporter. In addition to starring in the sequel to Independence Day 2, Jessie Usher is leading off the Starz series Survivor’s Remorse.

Fans seem to be split about the developments on the upcoming Independence Day 2.

@usweekly won’t this flop with no #WillSmith???!!

— Stevayo (@stevevoetweet) March 4, 2015

@ComplexMag @zblash98 this movies gonna be trash without will smith

— BS (@smithbrady17) March 4, 2015

@JustJared @The_JessieT ughhh don’t hurt ’em! Lol congrats man

— Harrison Knight (@Harrison_Knight) March 4, 2015

@Variety @The_JessieT Is there one single original idea in Holywood at all right now??

— Stuart Lawson (@slawson7) March 4, 2015

@TheWrap This dude is star and a great dude to boot!

— Mike O’Malley (@TheMikeOMalley) March 4, 2015

[Image via Twentieth Century Fox]