We’re a couple of months away from seeing dreamboat Jeff Goldblum–er, uh, America fight for its freedom from evil aliens again in Independence Day: Resurgence. That means it’s about time for the movie’s hype machine to start rolling, isn’t it? Judging by this TV spot, I’d say that yes, it is about time. Much of the film’s new cast is present in this one, including Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward, Jessie Usher, and Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Also present are some returning faves including Bill Pullman (in full-bearded “I used to be the President” mode), Vivica A. Fox, Brent Spiner, Judd Hirsch, and (you guessed it) worried-glaring scientist Jeff Goldblum. Noticeably absent from this list is Colonel Steven Hiller, aka Will Smith, whose character met a bit of a sad, unsatisfying end off-screen; he was killed during an alien hybrid test flight. 20th Century Fox was kind enough to provide a “screenshot” of the news report breaking his death in 2007 on the “War of 1996” website promoting the movie.
The plot of this sequel is, admittedly, pretty familiar. Aliens are invading (again), and it’s up to a small group of smart people to save the world from extinction (again). This time, though, they’ve got some alien-human hybrid technology to fight back with, so there’s a bit of a fighting chance with this one. As the movie’s ads all say: we always knew they were coming back. It’s unfortunate that they couldn’t say the same for Col. Hiller (ouch).
Even the TV spot’s got some very familiar scenes. In place of Spiner’s Area 51 character getting telepathically mind-linked in a smoky test chamber, you’ve got Pullman’s bearded ex-president getting slammed up against the glass. Also you’ve got Fox’s character waving frantically at the sky on top of a building–kinda like her friend who was killed when the aliens made their first attack on Los Angeles in the original movie. Oh, and of course, the wanton wholesale destruction that seems to make Independence Day what it is. That’s cool.
All this being said: is anyone else getting any XCOM vibes from this movie? Like, I realize that they’re both sort of unique spins off of a solidly re-used sci-fi plot, but… alien hybrid technology? Small, scrappy force fighting overwhelming odds? Hmm…
(via Uproxx)
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