Last time we heard about the discussed sequels to 1996’s Independence Day, it was just whispers and not much was thought of the rumor at the time.

Now it looks like the movies are much more likely to happen than was once thought. So much so that it’s being reported that director Roland Emmerich and screenwriter Dean Devlin are finishing up work on scripts for Independence Day 2 and Independence Day 3, with hopes being that they will be completed by mid-December. The plan as it stands right now is for the movies to be filmed back-to-back, which is quickly becoming the preferred production method for two planned sequels.

News that Will Smith was choosing between a family flick no one knows much about and returning for Men in Black III is still warm, but some pretty large-scale rumors are already materializing for the actor’s future.

It’s beginning to look more and more likely that not one, but possibly two sequels to Smith’s alien apocalypse movie Independence Day could be well on the way. This isn’t the first time rumors of these sequels have been heard, but the big elephant in the room was in fact paying the pile of money required to lure Smith back….something Fox was not willing (or perhaps able) to do.

Now comes word via IESB, who has a major scoop from a trusted source, that Mr. Will Smith is now actually locked in for both of these sequels. The news hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but everything seems to make enough sense for this to be happening now.