‘Independence Day 3’ Release Date Rumors: Will Director Sign On For Full ‘ID4’ Trilogy?


With the release of the latest Independence Day film, many want to know if director Roland Emmerich is already planning to make the film series a trilogy with a third Independence Day film.

Now that Independence Day: Resurgence has hit theaters, it seems like Emmerich’s enthusiasm for the ID4 saga is at an all time high, which means he’s planning for a film that goes beyond the current 2016 release.

We don’t have confirmation that the ID4 universe will become an actual trilogy, but it seems like Emmerich is already betting on it as a possible reality. According to Empire, the director behind Independence Day has pitched an “intergalactic journey” for a possible Independence Day 3 film.

While we didn’t get the full scope of his pitch, the ID4 director did throw a hint that he wanted to keep the current Independence Day group together, which means there’s a good chance Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum may return with newcomers Jessie Usher and Liam Hemsworth.

“I want to maintain this group of people, especially the young characters, and Jeff [Goldblum] and Brent [Spiner] will take part in it. It’ll be fun to keep that group together,” said the director. When fans hear the news about a possible third film, many wonder if they will have to wait another 20 years, as that’s the amount of time it took the powers that be to get behind a second installment.

As it stands, if a third film is greenlit, Emmerich reportedly doesn’t want to wait another 20 years before we see another Independence Day film. If a trilogy will happen, the director has said that it will begin, “maybe a year or two later” from Independence Day: Resurgence.

Technically, a film’s plot can begin at any time and still be 10 years in the making of the actual production, but there’s a clue in that this is unlikely to be the case because the director behind the first two films would want to direct it. On whether he’ll take the reigns on a third ID4 film, he said, “Will I definitely direct it? Oh yes. I’d never, ever let someone else do it.” Most of the stalling behind the pre-production of the second film was due to whether or not Will Smith would be a part of the second installment.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard news about a trilogy. Back in 2013, it seemed like a pipe dream, as Emmerich wasn’t convinced that it was going to happen. Originally, according to the Inquisitr, 20th Century Fox wanted both Independence Day movies to shoot back to back, but this was when actor Will Smith was still in the conversation to return. Smith isn’t the lead in Independence Day: Resurgence, and the sequel is taken over by his son, played by Jessie Usher.

Ultimately, what it comes down to is how well Independence Day: Resurgence does at the box office. There were whispers that the film might be in trouble, because 20th Century Fox decided to invite critics to screen the movie on the day of the release. Such a practice is very rare; usually critics will review a film weeks, if not at least a few days, before the release. Many have pointed out this may indicate the film isn’t what the studio had hoped and they want to curb critical response to save box office numbers, or that this decision was made to keep spoilers away from fans. Both are extremely plausible theories.

That said, Independence Day: Resurgence is poised for a strong opening, as Deadline predicts $18 million to $19 million for Friday. What will really test the film is whether or not there will be a second week drop off, and if it has legs at the box office to ride out into August.

[Photo by 20th Century Fox]

Share this article: ‘Independence Day 3’ Release Date Rumors: Will Director Sign On For Full ‘ID4’ Trilogy?
More from Inquisitr