Leading up to the long-awaited theatrical release of director Roland Emmerich's franchise sequel Independence Day: Resurgence later this June, fans of the original feature from 1996 are no doubt well aware of and eagerly anticipating a follow-up to the initial science-fiction disaster film that will be far larger than what came before. As depicted in the production's recent slate of movie posters, Emmerich is set to stage a returning alien invasion that is sure to put the fabled War of 1996 in the relief against a pending world event of cosmic proportions.

Following the release of an exclusive extended trailer for the new movie, Emmerich has been quick to describe Independence Day: Resurgence as being full of "big ideas" that are sure to result in a sequel that will be "bigger than the last one." And based on the latest featurette and slate of HD images from the actual movie, Emmerich might be right.

In the footage featured above, returning lead actor Jeff Goldblum (The Grand Budapest Hotel) and Independence Day franchise newcomer Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games) both extoll the thrilling tension and action packed spectacle in store for audiences who see Independence Day: Resurgence in theaters this summer. With Hemsworth calling the new film (which will pit the human race against an alien species that is far more advanced intellectually and technologically speaking) "quite the dogfight," it appears that Emmerich has quiet the blockbuster-level movie event up his sleeve.

Check out the latest HD images from Independence Day: Resurgence, below:

If everything is to be believed from the cast and crew, then Independence Day: Resurgence might just pan out into an unstoppable summer season spectacle not to be missed by even the most casual moviegoer. Despite the twenty year gap between the first film and the second, Emmerich appears to be firing on all cylinders with his latest directorial effort, despite the decided and sorely missed absence of former franchise star and lead protagonist Will Smith from the depicted sci-fi proceedings yet to come.

Whether or not fans of the Independence Day franchise will be pleased with Resurgence remains to be seen, though everything released thus far seems in keeping with the property's established genre film pedigree. For now fans can bide their time and await what is sure to be know hereafter as the far more formidable War of 2016.

NEXT: Independence Day: Resurgence Extended Trailer

Independence Day: Resurgence opens in U.S. theaters on June 24th, 2016.

Source: 20th Century Fox