As production continues on Independence Day 2 in New Mexico, the cast keeps growing and growing, with William Fichtner signing on for a lead role. The actor will play an important General in the sequel, a role that will actually expand in two more sequels that are being developed. This is the first we're hearing of two more sequels, but Independence Day 2 was previously-conceived as a two-parter, then known as ID Forever Part 1 and ID Forever Part 2, but those plans were eventually scrapped. Of course, very little is known about Independence Day 2 as it stands right now, so we're not sure what the plot may be for Independence Day 3 and Independence Day 4.

William Fichtner joins a cast that includes original Independence Day stars Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson), Vivica A. Fox (Jasmine Dubrow), Brent Spiner (Dr. Brackish Okun), Bill Pullman (Thomas A. Whitmore) and Judd Hirsch (Julius Levinson). New cast members include Jessie Usher as Jasmine's son, Sela Ward as U.S. President Lanford, and Liam Hemsworth, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Travis Tope, Joey King and Maika Monroe in unspecified roles. Vivica A. Fox recently revealed that the sequel is set 15 years after the original, and that the aliens do come back to Earth.

Roland Emmerich is directing from a script by Carter Blanchard. The script is based on characters created by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, who are also producing with Harald Kloser. William Fichtner most recently starred in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as Eric Sacks, a role he is reprising for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, and last year's Western The Homesman.