It's hard to believe it's been three decades since the world was left reeling by Roland Emmerich's colossal sci-fi epic, 'Independence Day'. The film's 30th anniversary serves as a reminder that this cinematic behemoth still casts a long shadow over the blockbuster landscape. As we revisit the making of this global phenomenon, it's clear why its creators were so confident they'd be witnessing something special – and boy, did they ever.
The spark that ignited 'Independence Day' was a visual fireworks display on an epic scale: a gargantuan alien spaceship looming over city skylines like a celestial monolith. Emmerich vividly recalls showing Devlin the full extent of this vision, suggesting that the underside of such a vessel would stretch as far as the eye could see from even the highest hilltop vantage point.
But was it really just one defining image that galvanised the creative minds behind 'Independence Day'? Or did something more subtle – perhaps a reporter's innocuous-sounding query about aliens and pyramid-building during a promotional tour for their previous film, 'Stargate' – quietly seep into Emmerich's subconscious, waiting to spark the flames of inspiration? According to Devlin, it was this exchange that set the wheels in motion: "What if we woke up tomorrow morning and walked outside to get the newspaper, only to find a 15-mile-wide spaceship blinding out the sun for an entire city?"
The concept snowballed into a script at breakneck speed, prompting a bidding war among the major studios that proved just how eager they were to bring this extraterrestrial spectacle to life. The filmmakers deliberately planned its release for July 4th in 1996, cleverly positioning it as the perfect summer blockbuster – and expertly outmanoeuvring Tim Burton's 'Mars Attacks!' into second place.
'Independence Day' went on to become a global phenomenon, reaping over £630 million (approximately $800 million) worldwide and briefly taking the top spot from 'Jurassic Park' as the highest-grossing film globally at the time. But it was also an actor's dream come true – with casting challenges that would test even the most seasoned of professionals.
Jeff Goldblum's role as the brilliant, if slightly eccentric, satellite engineer was a no-brainer, while the parts of the US President and Captain Steven Hiller sparked heated debate. Initially, the President was envisioned as more complex, a "liar who finds himself in a moment of glory" – with none other than Kevin Spacey reportedly being considered for the part before ultimately losing out to Bill Pullman.
And then there was Will Smith: a relatively unknown quantity at the time, but one that would quickly become an international superstar. Despite studio reservations about his casting as Captain Hiller, Emmerich and Devlin championed their choice – paving the way for Smith's breakout performance in 'Independence Day'.
'Independence Day' remains available to stream in the UK on Disney+, or can be rented/purchased on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Its enduring popularity serves as a testament to its timeless appeal, solidifying its status as an unmissable quintessential 90s summer blockbuster – and cementing its place alongside 'Alien' and 'War of the Worlds' in the pantheon of all-time great alien invasion movies.