Young actor will try to fill Big Willie-sized hole in sequel.
By Brandon Wolfe
Jessie T. Usher (no relation), star of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse, has been cast in the upcoming Independence Day sequel as Dylan Hiller, the stepson of Will Smith’s Capt. Steven Hiller. Smith’s pint-sized Fresh Prince co-star Ross Bagley originated the role in the 1996 blockbuster, but will not reprise it (which isn’t surprising since the only acting Bagley has done so far this century is a 2004 episode of Judging Amy).
Director Roland Emmerich revealed Usher’s casting on his official Facebook page, stating “My producing partner Harald Kloser noticed Jessie in between sets of pushups at the gym and gave him an audition. As they say, the rest is history!”
Usher will join returning ID4 vets Jeff Goldblum and Bull Pullman for the sequel, which begins production in May for a July 4, 2016 release (20 years to the day from the original’s opening). He will not, however, be joining Smith, who has declined to participate in the follow-up to the film that made him a superstar. Also unknown on the returning front is Vivica A. Fox, who played the mother of the Dylan character in the original. What is certain is that Randy Quaid will not be back.
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