10:02am PT by Aaron Couch

'Independence Day 2': Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch Returning

Director Roland Emmerich announced the news on Twitter.

Bill Pullman's President Whitmore lives on. 

Pullman is reprising his Independence Day role for the upcoming sequel, alongside Judd Hirsch, who played Julius Levinson, father to Jeff Goldblum's computer genius character David in the original. Roland Emmerich, who is returning to direct, announced the castings on Twitter Friday.

Independence Day 2 is slated for June 24, 2016, just under 20 years after the original film hit theaters July 3, 1996. Goldblum is also returning to star alongside series newcomers Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher, who will play the son of the cocky fighter pilot played by Will Smith in the original. 

Pullman's president Whitmore has remained popular in the years since the film hit theaters, with his speech on the eve of the film's final act among its most quoted moments.

The first Independence Day grossed more than $800 million worldwide. Dean Devlin, Emmerich and Harald Kloser are producing the sequel. James A. Woods and Nicolas Wright wrote the most recent draft.

Aaron Couch

Aaron Couch

aaron.couch@thr.com AaronCouch

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