Will Smith Won't Be Back for 'Independence Day' Sequel But Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman Will Return

After Roland Emmerich revealed the other day that Will Smith wouldn't be back for the upcoming Independence Day sequel, the director did mention that he planned on pulling together a cast that was half returning stars from the original movie and half new additions to the franchise. Thanks to Movies.com, we now know that at least two of the returning actors played a big part in the first Independence Day, with Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman coming back.

When I pressed him on who those returning characters are, he said Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman are on board so far. In the original Goldblum played the nerdy scientist heartthrob whose shticky relationship with his father (Judd Hirsch) provided some of the film's greatest moments. Pullman played the badass president of the United States who took to the skies to defend his country against the invading aliens (he also gave us one of the most spirited and patriotic of all movie speeches). No word on how either man factors into the plot of the sequel, which Emmerich has said is "unusual."

Will the fact that Pullman has been playing a different president on NBC's awful 1600 Penn change how moviegoers see him in the Oval Office? I always thought that 1600 Penn should've existed in the same universe as Independence Day. Maybe Smith could've even showed up for a cameo.

Speaking of Smith, after the disaster that After Earth was, you'd think that he would be eager to join a project that could help him reclaim his old blockbuster magic. Returning for Independence Day 2 would go a long way in repairing the damage that Smith has done to his career. One rule, though — no Jaden Smith. Ever.