Independence Day 2 has yet-another returning cast member… as Brent Spiner joins the upcoming sci-fi sequel.
Although he’s best known as Lt. Comm. Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation, actor Brent Spiner has appeared in countless sci-fi franchises – most recently landing a role in the animated series, Star Wars Rebels.
But he also starred in the 1999 classic, Independence Day… and it seems he’ll be back for the sequel.
Independence Day 2 writer and director Roland Emerich took to Twitter to announce that Brent Spiner will return in his upcoming sequel… along with a fresh new face.
“This just in… @JoeyKingActress and @BrentSpiner officially signed for #IndependenceDay – Welcome aboard!”
Of course, Brent Spiner famously played Dr Okun – a highly-strung, dishevelled scientist who was in charge of research at the infamous military facility, Area 51. Filling in some of the backstory for Independence Day, it’s revealed that the military base is home to the remains of the Roswell incident… where Okun has been researching the aliens ever since.
But Okun soon gets the chance to begin another autopsy on a captured alien… even if things don’t quite go to plan.
Although the alien seems dead, it regains consciousness during the autopsy. Not exactly ideal, especially when it eventually escapes… and psychically attacks the President of the United States.
And in the ruckus, poor Dr Okun is thought to have been killed…
But with Brent Spiner returning in Independence Day 2, it looks as though rumours of his death may have been exaggerated. Of course, details of his role remain unknown, but it seems highly likely that Dr Okun will return.
So it seems he didn’t die after all…
“The first scene in the [then rumoured sequel] is a hammer hitting a board and we pan out and they’re re-building the White House,” Spiner said during an appearance in Pasadena. “The second scene in the movie is Okun waking up from a coma.”
Obviously, the exact circumstances surrounding Okun’s return remain a mystery. And while Spiner is obviously enthusiastic about hi return, we’ll have to just wait and see. But the fact that he’s back at all is certainly cause to celebrate.
Independence Day 2 heads to cinemas on 24 June 2016.
Are you excited for Independence Day 2? Which other characters will return? Let us know what you think in the comments below…
