‘Independence Day 2’ Almost Flipped The Script With Peaceful Aliens And Destructive Humans

Independence Day: Resurgence looks like over-the-top fun, but it won’t win any awards for originality. Basically, it’s the original Independence Day all over again, except bigger, louder and more destructive. Well, apparently original plans for an Independence Day sequel were quite different.

While answering fan questions for Empire, Roland Emmerich revealed the status quo-shaking idea he had for an Independence Day sequel back in the early 2000s…

“After 9/11 Dean and I wanted to make the movie about peace, but it just didn’t work. There’s still an element of that in the new one, but that version was only about that. We shoot aliens down accidentally and then at the end of the movie they land on the White House lawn and say ‘we come in peace’ and that was it. It was just too weak an idea and we didn’t really want to do it. It didn’t have an Independence Day feel. Only the alien ship was destroyed!”

That’s actually an interesting idea, and it would be cool if the whole Independence Day saga does end in peace. Of course, Emmerich’s pathological need to destroy landmarks kept it from happening. Oh, and don’t expect Independence Day: Resurgence to secretly be about peace, because another sequel is probably on the way.

“If it’s successful enough, yes, [there will be a sequel]. Because it’s set up for a sequel. In 20 years? No, I wouldn’t want to make it with a walker!”

While we’re at it, you can check out an explosive new Independence Day: Resurgence Clip at the top of this post, and a couple more below.

Independence Day: Resurgence explodes into theaters June 24.

(Via Empire)

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