First Independence Day: Resurgence trailer is a throwback to the ‘90s

The first trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence has been released. The long overdue sequel to the classic Roland Emmerich movie from the ‘90s may not have Will Smith, but what it does have is a whole bunch of nostalgic thrills and bigger aliens.

In 1996, when a massive alien mothership appeared over the New York skyline, it changed movies forever. Never before had such a daunting image been projected in an action film. With Independence Day Roland Emmerich gave us a seminal ‘90s action movie. Now, in 2015, he returns with the first trailer for the long overdue sequel Independence Day: Resurgence, due out exactly 20 years later in 2016.

Independence Day: Resurgence is exactly what we wanted from the sequel to the classic ‘90s flick.

A still from the original movie.

From the very first frames, this trailer promises to be both a nostalgic throwback to the greatest decade in action movies and a much needed update for the modern audience. While the effects were path breaking for 1996, we’ve become used to grander spectacle these days. And that’s what Emmerich gives us.

Since the last invasion, mankind has used the leftover alien tech to fortify its defenses. However, the aliens were able to send a distress signal after their defeat and now, twenty years later, they’ve returned. ‘Bigger than the last one,’ jokes Jeff Goldblum.

Emmerich is back to his destruction.

While the tone here may be perfect for audiences that have grown up on Inception or the Transformers movies, the spirit is unmistakably ‘90s. From the classic arrival of the new alien mothership to a new take on that memorable speech by Bill Pullman from the original, it’s all recreated lovingly.

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Here’s that great speech

Yes, the Will Smith-sized hole is very conspicuous, but the trailer makes it clear that newcomer Liam Hemsworth’s character is very much a stand-in so we won’t miss him too much. The president’s daughter, meanwhile, has now grown up and resembles modern day scream queen Maika Monroe. One shot very intriguingly puts her in a jet (what’s that all about?).

The aliens come crashing down to earth.

Independence Day: Resurgence looks like a pleasant throwback to the original movie, freshened up for a new generation. And going by how well Mad Max: Fury Road and Jurassic World turned out, not to mention that tiny indie Star Wars: The Force Awakens, our expectations are as gargantuan as that alien mothership.

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The film also stars Judd Hirsch, Vivica A Fox, Brent Spiner, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jessie Usher and Sela Ward. It is expected to arrive on June 24, 2016.

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It really is bigger than the last time.