Earth's New Battle Against Aliens: Photos from 'Independence Day: Resurgence'

Attack on Earth

Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox. TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

"Independence Day: Resurgence," a sequel to the 1996 blockbuster "Independence Day" opens in theaters this Friday, June 24. In this still from the movie, an alien attack has devastating effects on a major world capital.

Alien Attack

Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox. TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

An alien ship from the film wreaks havoc in the skies above a fleeing ship.

Shocking Discoveries

Credit: Claudette Barius - TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) and former U.S. president Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman) make a shocking discovery.

Stars Return

Claudette Barius - TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Jeff Goldblum returns as David Levinson.

Big Names

Claudette Barius - TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Liam Hemsworth portrays fighter pilot Jake Morrison.

Heroes

Claudette Barius - TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Liam Hemsworth portrays Jake Morrison, a heroic fighter pilot of alien-human hybrid jets.

Honoring Heroes

Claudette Barius - TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

President Lanford (Sela Ward) welcomes decorated fighter pilot Dylan Hiller (Jessie Usher) to The White House.

Making Headway in the War

Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox. TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Scientists survey the wreckage of a downed alien mothership.

Another Stellar Actor

Claudette Barius - TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Vivica A. Fox returns as Jasmine Hiller.

Creating a Movie

Claudette Barius - TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Director Roland Emmerich on the set of Independence Day: Resurgence.

Directing a Winner

Claudette Barius - TM & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

(Second) Director Roland Emmerich on the set of Independence Day: Resurgence.

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Calla Cofield
Senior Writer

Calla Cofield joined Space.com's crew in October 2014. She enjoys writing about black holes, exploding stars, ripples in space-time, science in comic books, and all the mysteries of the cosmos. Prior to joining Space.com Calla worked as a freelance writer, with her work appearing in APS News, Symmetry magazine, Scientific American, Nature News, Physics World, and others. From 2010 to 2014 she was a producer for The Physics Central Podcast. Previously, Calla worked at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City (hands down the best office building ever) and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. Calla studied physics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is originally from Sandy, Utah. In 2018, Calla left Space.com to join NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory media team where she oversees astronomy, physics, exoplanets and the Cold Atom Lab mission. She has been underground at three of the largest particle accelerators in the world and would really like to know what the heck dark matter is. Contact Calla via: E-Mail – Twitter