'Independence Day 2' to be Charlotte Gainsbourg's first US blockbuster
Charlotte Gainsbourg is in talks to join the follow-up to Roland Emmerich's 1996 blockbuster. The big-budget sci-fi action movie would mark a departure for the 43-year-old French actress, who has established a reputation for her subtle interpretations of delicate roles.
It's not uncommon to see Charlotte Gainsbourg in American productions with international reach, particularly those of the art house variety. Perfectly bilingual thanks to her British mother Jane Birkin, the daughter of Serge Gainsbourg has regularly appeared in English-language films over the past decade, including Alejandro Gonzales Iñarritu's "21 Grams" with Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Benicio del Toro, as well as the Bob Dylan biopic "I'm Not There."
She has also become a frequent collaborator of Danish filmmaker Lars Von Trier, who directed her in "Antichrist," "Melancholia" and "Nymphomaniac." The latest addition to her international resume is Wim Wenders' "Every Thing Will Be Fine," which also stars James Franco and Rachel McAdams. The drama premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February.
On the other hand, the news that Gainsbourg is considering a role in "Independence Day 2" comes as something of a surprise. So far, the French actress has steered clear of studio tentpoles, preferring to work with respected filmmakers who place the creative process ahead of box office potential. These vehicles have been best suited to the actress's emotional subtlety, which could easily go overlooked in an effects-heavy action movie. One is reminded of "Godzilla" and Juliette Binoche's character, who disappeared after 15 minutes of screen time.
The details of Gainsbourg's potential role in "Independence Day 2" are unknown for the time being. The sequel is set to star Jessie Usher as Dylan Hiller, son of Captain Steven Hiller, the character played in 1996 by Will Smith, who will not return. Liam Hemsworth and Jeff Goldblum are also cast. Roland Emmerich will return to helm "Independence Day 2," which will be released on June 24, 2016. The original film set a new global box office record with cumulative earnings of $800 million.
