Everything You Need To Know About Independence Day 2

What do you mean you didn't know they were making an Independence Day sequel? We best bring you up to speed...

There's an (almost) new cast

Will Smith isn't in it. But the 1996 team of Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson), Vivica A. Fox (Jasmine), Brent Spiner (Dr Brackish Okun) and Bill Pullman (Thomas Whitmore) are all back under the direction of Roland Emmerich. Thor - sorry, Liam Hemsworth is set to provide the heroic focus as some chap called Jake Morrison.

It's got a proper name

And it's no longer called Independence Day 2. Fox is calling the new alien romp, Independence Day: Resurgence - as in, an increased or revived amount of activity after a period of relative calm.

Yeah, we'll stick to calling it Independence Day 2 as well - though Emmerich has been keen to suggest this is more a reboot (hence the name) than a sequel.

We know the plot (sort of)

Fox has also announced the official plot details for the film, due 2016, so if you want to keep things a surprise before the first trailer drops, look away now.

"Independence Day was just the beginning. We always knew they were coming back. After that film redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter in the Independence Day universe delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction."

An epic moon based fighting machine will be involved

Part of that defense program (or "defence programme" in English) has also been revealed, in the form of the Moon Tug ship - a craft based on the Moon that acts as a first defence against alien invasion. Here's a photo of the ship, and another of Emmerich taking a selfie with it.

There's a new president

Goldblum's Levison is apparently heading up the Earth defence group, Sela Ward fills in as the president. Smith does have a legacy in the project, with Jesse Usher set to play the son of his character from the original film.

Beyond that - you can probably expect some aliens to turn up intent on planetary destruction. We'll let you know as soon as we learn more.