British actor Deobia Oparei, (Areo Hotah in HBO’s "Game Of Thrones") has booked a role in Fox’s "Independence Day 2," joining the previously-cast Jessie T. Usher, who starred in the LeBron James-produced Starz series, "Survivor’s Remorse," and is playing the lead in the Fox sequel.

Oparei will play a character named Dikembe, and is described as the Oxford-educated son of an African warlord. I’ll reserve commentary until I actually see the film; although color me nervous with that description, as I’m wondering how the character will fit into the movie’s overall "alien invasion" narrative. It’s just so specific.

Also to appear in the film are returning stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Vivica A. Fox, who’ll be joined by newcomers Liam Hemsworth, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Sela Ward.

20th Century Fox is moving ahead with the first of 2 announced "Independence Day" sequels, which will be released during the summer of 2016, exactly 20 years after the first film’s July 3, 1996 theatrical debut.

As for Will Smith, he’s not returning, and will indeed sit out the next 2 films, paving the way for Usher to take over, playing his son, in a handing-off of the baton.

As writer/director Rolland Emmerich said previously, the sequels would be "a bit like the sons takeover," meaning maybe Will Smith wasn’t expected to be part of the sequels in the first place – at least, not in any meaningful way – and the story-lines for each film will instead focus on a new generation of human heroes, including Will Smith’s character’s eventual stepson (Vivica Fox’s kid) in "ID4" (who was played by Ross Bagley, now 25 years old). 

It was previously reported that the 2 films will be called: "ID Forever – Part 1," and "ID Forever – Part 2."

We’ll see how this all shakes out. I haven’t exactly been longing for "ID4" sequels, but I’m sure I’ll still see them when they are released.