As it prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year, the sci-fi blockbuster Independence Day has been taking its time with releasing details over its long-awaited sequel.

But director Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow, 2012) finally confirmed new information over the follow-up’s title during a press conference in Alburquerque last night.

He revealed that the film will be entitled Independence Day: Resurgence and also spoke about its plot whilst being accompanied by several members of the cast.

The story will be set 20 years after the events of the original with Earth being defended by a global defense system to avoid future alien invasions. However the extraterrestrials return to heap further chaos on the planet.

Emmerich said:

“We call it in the film the War of ’96. It’s like a post-World generation that’s unified, and that’s amazing to see a world come together with a common enemy. That’s a resurgence.”

Amongst the original cast returning for the sequel include Jeff Goldblum as heroic scientist David Levinson, Bill Pullman as former US President Whitmore, Judd Hirsch as David’s father Julius, Vivica A Fox as Jasmine Hiller and Brett Spiner as the unfortunate Dr. Brakish Okun.

However there is no comeback for Will Smith as Independence Day’s chief hero Steven Hiller though the character’s son Dylan will be back and be played by newcomer Jessie Usher (Level-Up, Survivor’s Remorse). Another major recast is of President Whitmore’s daughter Patricia who is now being portrayed by Maika Monroe (Labor Day, The Guest).

Usher and Monroe will be joined by other cast newcomers for the sequel including Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games series, The Expendables II), Charlotte Gainsbourg (Antichrist, Nymphomaniac), William Fichtner (Prison Break, The Dark Knight) and Sela Ward (The Day After Tomorrow, Gone Girl).

Goldblum revealed that David is leading a new initiative to protect the planet for this installment while newbie Hemsworth spoke about what fans can expect from his character.

“Jake lost his parents in the first attack, he grew up in an orphanage, and eventually joined the military and became a fighter pilot, and eventually became one of the best of the best fighter pilots.

“I think his ego kind of got in the way, he made a bad decision and put someone’s life at risk, and he got the great job of driving this moon tug, which is basically a forklift on the moon.”