With his latest special effects sensation, '2012,' set to assault our senses beginning today, Roland Emmerich is looking ahead -- by looking back. While making the press rounds in anticipation of '2012,' Emmerich inevitably got to talking about his 1996 alien invasion blockbuster, 'Independence Day.' From the moment the film broke $100 million in a week, shattering records of the time, there has been talk of a sequel. Now, according to Hollywood Wiretap, Emmerich is considering two, count 'em, two. "We want to do a bigger arc," he said. "'Independence Day' was always like the king who leads his troops into battle against an evil force, and that stays like that."
There's no script yet, according to Emmerich, but there is an idea, a catchy title and the promise of Will Smith's involvement. Really, what more do you need? An idea is enough to bring us the next phase in the alien-invasion saga. Technological advancements in the area of special effects are enough to ensure us that it will be beautiful, and the lack of a script ensures it will be the mindless fun for which we look for in Emmerich's blockbusters.
It was 'Independence Day' that established Emmerich as the go-to guy for epic visuals, mind-blowing imagery, and, uh, really not much else. If 'Independence Day' didn't start the summer popcorn movie craze, it certainly pushed it to the next level.
Without the massive success of 'ID4,' there would be no Michael Bay making stuff blow up in the 'Transformers' movies. But nobody makes the end of the world -- or at least the end of everything we know -- look so damned attractive as Roland Emmerich. That's why we went to see 'The Day After Tomorrow,' and that's why we're excited about '2012.' The actual character and plot will be long forgotten, but those images of devastation will be with us forever.
As for the title? We think 'ID4-Ever, Parts I and II' is so cloyingly clever, it's perfect.
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