Independence Day Resurgence Director Believes In Aliens, Hopes They Never Visit

Independence Day director Roland Emmerich had the idea for the original ID4 film when fielding a question about his belief in the existence of alien life in 1994. Back then he was promoting Stargate, and the idea that alien invasion films generally focused on a race of alien beings that traveled long distances to Earth only to remain mysterious and hidden once they arrive. Here in 2016 at the premiere of Independence Day Resurgence, we thought it pertinent to ask Emmerich again whether or not his beliefs had changed in the past couple of decades.

"I hope they exist," said Emmerich. "I hope that they one day would visit. I think that it would be the biggest moment of anyone's life, when they make contact. I think that's probably why we are so fascinated with [the idea of intelligent life beyond Earth]."

"[On the other hand] I believe they would have to be hostile to come and visit us. Because of the lessons we take from our own ways, our own exploration of the depths or our centuries of conquering places. So, in a way, no," said Emmerich, suggesting we might be better of not being visited.

Wouldn't want an Independence Day-type situation on our hands, after all.

"One of the most influential films of my career was Close Encounters," added Emmerich.

"Because it's almost like a religious feeling that we get, almost like angels come down to Earth." Emmerich quite liked that possibility – far more than what he fears the reality of the situation would likely be.

Independence Day Resurgence hits theaters across the United States today and tonight, 20 years after the original. This film was directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin, Nicholas Wright, James A. Woods and James Vanderbilt. If you see the film, be sure to let us know what you think, and whether or not you're as fearful of the future as you were when you saw the original back in 1996.