Jessie Usher has been cast in the highly-anticipated sequel Independence Day 2.
The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the 23-year-old Survivor's Remorse star will play a "central character" in the sci-fi film that previously starred Will Smith. In fact, his as-yet-unnamed character will be the son of Smith's Captain Steven Hiller from the original.
The news came shortly before returning director Roland Emmerich took to Twitter to formally announce two other big-name castings.
“Excited to Officially announce @LiamHemsworth and #JeffGoldblum as the next two pieces of the #IndependenceDay sequel,” he tweeted.
Jeff, 62, played MIT graduate David Levinson in the original film. The character worked for a cable company in New York and stumbled upon hidden transmissions in Earth's satellites which he discovered was a timer counting down to a coordinated attack by aliens.
The sequel will hit cinemas on June 24, 2016 – 20 years after the first film set the box office ablaze, taking in $800 million worldwide and making a bonafide movie star out of Smith.
Jessie is currently starring in the Starz series Survivor's Remorse as Cam Calloway – a basketball player who hits the big time after signing a deal to play pro in Atlanta.
The show was quickly renewed for a second season, set to air later this year, following its premiere in October.
Jessie has previously had bit parts in Without a Trace, Hannah Montana, Numb3rs, The Mentalist and Criminal Minds.
He most recently appeared on the big screen in When the Game Stands Tall – a film about legendary football coach Bob Ladouceur which hit cinemas last August.
If his predecessor’s journey is anything to go by, Jessie can expect to be one in-demand actor following the release of Independence Day 2.
The 1996 original saw the world come under attack from aliens, with Smith leading the charge alongside Bill Pullman as President Thomas J. Whitmore.
