Genre:
Science Fiction/Adventure
Studio:
Twentieth Century Fox.
Production Company: Centropolis Films.
Project Phase: Greenlighted.
Who's In It:
Jeff Goldblum (David Levinson); Bill Pullman (President Thomas
Whitmore); Will Smith (Steve Hill); Randy Quaid; Margaret Colin (Constance Levinson);
Brent Spiner (Dr. Okun); Harry Connick Jr. (Jimmy); Vivica Fox (Jasmine
Dubrow); Judd Hirsch; Matthew Perry; Robert Loggia (General Grey); Mary McDonnell; James Duval; Andrew Keegan;
Adam Baldwin.
Who's Making It:
Roland Emmerich (Director); Dean Devlin, Roland Emmerich (Screenwriters); Dean Devlin
(Producer); David Brenner (Editor); Karl Walter Linderlaub (Director of
Photography); Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich, Bill Fay (Executive Producers); David
Arnold (Musical Score); Clay Pinney, Doug Smith (Special Effects Supervisors).
Premise: A giant alien mothership arrives in Earth orbit and immediately begin to pulsate a cyclic tone down to the nations of Earth. The world is frantic to try and understand the aliens intentions - until a scientist (played by Goldblum) decyphers the alien message - it's a countdown. The President of the United States attempts to reason with the creatures, but it becomes clear that they have given Earth a choice: become their slaves, or die and be removed as a species from the planet. As the aliens demonstrate their massive orbital firepower by totalling major cities of the United States, the U.S. (and presumably, global) military try to respond in kind, but against impossible odds. Their only ace in the hole may be the secrets they can glean from something that crashed from the sky in July, 1947...something that came from another world.
Release Date: Moved up to July 2, 1996.
Comments: With the same team assembled who thought up Stargate, expect to see an epic quality to the show. Area 51, the long rumored testing facility for crashed alien saucers, somehow figures into the storyline.
And the show has set a record for the most shots of model effects ever filmed in a movie.
Rumors:Taken from the Internet (August 1995)... Brent Spiner (Data from "Star Trek: The Next Generation") was spotted on location in Arizona filming a scene that involved an alien attack upon a trailer park.
Rumors also are going around that there'll be some major demolition of American cities. If you live in Los Angeles, Washington D.C. or New York City, get out of town that long weekend, ok?
Scoop Feedback:
November 1995... A key scene in the film supposedly involves an epic dogfight between 150 F-18s and 250 alien ships. Taken from a second-hand interview from screenwriter Dean Devlin. [Undisclosed source.]
March 26, 1996... Interested in seeing what the aliens look like as action figures? Then check out 'http://www.trendmaster.com'. [Scoop submitted anonymously.]
April 4, 1996... According to the film's screenwriter (Dean Devlin), if you live in one of the world's largest cities you're still not safe. The alien mothership (1/4 the size of the moon) releases 30 15-mile diameter attack vessels, which take up resident above the world's 30 largest cities. Then things get a little messy, if you know what I mean.
Merchandise for the film will start to be released 6 weeks to a month before the film's early July launch date. So you can take your Bill Pullman action figure to the opening night, ok? [Scoop reported by 'Atreides'.]
May 1, 1996... [Musical score info submitted by James Furlong.]
May 4, 1996... [Additional character/crew info supplied by 'Sylvester'.]
May 10, 1996... Director Roland Emmerich was reportedly told that when American audiences saw the trailer scene showing the destruction of the White House - they applauded. And this is an election year. [Scoop forwarded by 'Agent X'.]
June 6, 1996... Independence Day has received a PG-13 rating from the MPAA. [Scoop info forwarded by Christian.]
June 20, 1996... A new IMAX film called Special Effects will open in July at various IMAX theatres in North America. Along with showing special effects from such films as Kazamm and the Star Wars Special Edition, the film will also look at how the effects for Independence Day were crafted. [Scoop provided by 'Yanni'.]
After Its Release:
Week of July 7, 1996... Independence Day is now the fastest-grossing film of all time, breaking the $100 million mark with ticket sales in six days.
July 11, 1996... Well, a little late but better than never: we're told that Will Smith got a sunburn up his shorts from the sun's reflection off the salt flats during the filming of those scenes. Whoa. [Scoop sent in anonymously.]
July 12, 1996... We're told of a cartoon spoof of the ID4 ending existing at 'Driftwood Online' located at: www.uno.edu/~drif/july11/id4.