There's no shortage of earth-ending spectacle on director Roland Emmerich's resume, but his beloved 1996 alien invasion blockbuster Independence Day that first put him on the map as one of cinema's foremost auteurs of the apocalypse. Now, the director is looking to up the ante with Independence Day: Resurgence. The sequel that reunites most of the original cast, picking up 20 years after the events of the first film when the alien threat returns to earth in full force, launching a new fight for humanity's survival.

20th Century Fox recently debuted some new footage from the movie at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, and Collider’s own Steve Weintraub was on hand and able to sit down for a chat with Resurgence stars Maika Monroe and Jessie Usher. They talked about how 20 years worth of developments in filmmaking technology allows the film to have "larger than life" stakes, meeting Jeff Goldblum for the first time, working opposite their onscreen parents and their most memorable days on set. Check out the time index below for a rundown of what they discussed, and watch the full interview above. And if you're looking for more Independence Day goodness, be sure to check out Steve's fun interview with Jeff Goldblum and Brett Spiner here.


Maika Monroe and Jessie Usher:

  • :26 — What is it like seeing the footage now that the effects are finished?
  • 1:00 — Talk about Roland Emmerich’s prodigious resume of destroying the earth.
  • 1:37 — Talk about how technological advances have made the effects and scope of the film larger than life.
  • 2:45 — Is there a day or two they will always remember from filming?
  • 4:00 — Talk about the first day they met Jeff Goldblum.
  • 4:29 - Who were the cast members they spent the most time with on set and what was it like working with them?
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Image via 20th Century Fox

Here’s the official synopsis for Independence Day: Resurgence.

We always knew they were coming back. After INDEPENDENCE DAY redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women  can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.

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Image via 20th Century Fox

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Image via 20th Century Fox

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