In 1996, Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day was the biggest movie of the year. The film propelled Will Smith to new heights of superstardom and even made the cover of TIME Magazine. My then, 13-year-old self was obsessed with the movie. It’s a film I still enjoy watching today, though it only marginally holds up. Now, some 20 years later, we’re getting a sequel. Here’s the first trailer…
So there you have it. I’m not sure people were clamoring for an Independence Day sequel, but we’re getting one anyway. I’m unmoved by this first-look trailer, neither excited nor appalled.
Will I see the film in theaters? Probably, yes. If not for the nostalgia, then at least for the return of Goldblum and Pullman. Notably absent, however, is Smith, who may have been too shell-shocked from his After Earth experience to re-enter the world of sci-fi. Emmerich is back as well, so you can bet there will be plenty of improbable spectacle on display. If nothing else, this will be a fun, nostalgic inside joke.
The film is set to hit theaters on June 24th, just in time for 4th of July weekend.
