20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox has released an even longer new trailer for “Independence Day: Resurgence,” revealing even more of the upcoming movie, you actually may not even have to go see it when it opens in theaters this summer, June 24, 2016.

Jessie T. Usher (star of the LeBron James-produced Starz series, “Survivor’s Remorse”), playing Will Smith’s character’s son, joins returning stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, and Vivica A. Fox, as well as newcomers Liam Hemsworth, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sela Ward and Deobia Oparei (Areo Hotah in HBO’s “Game Of Thrones”).

20th Century Fox is planning 2 sequels, by the way. This one is the first of the 2, which will be released next month, 20 years after the first film’s theatrical debut.

As for Will Smith, he’s not returning as we’ve already covered on this blog, and will indeed sit out the next 2 films, paving the way for Usher to take over, 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 Will Smith probably wasn’t expected to be part of the sequels in the first place – at least, not in any meaningful way – and the storylines for each film will instead focus on a new generation of human heroes, including Smith’s character’s eventual stepson (Vivica Fox’s kid) in “ID4” (who was played by Ross Bagley, now 26 years old). Although I won’t at all be surprised if Smith makes some kind of a cameo, maybe in a flashback.

I haven’t exactly been longing for “ID4” sequels, but I’m sure I’ll still see them when they are released.

Official synopsis: After “Independence Day” redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global catastrophe on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.

New 5-minute trailer below: