Day: Resurgence | Independence
This prequel novel bridges the 20-year gap between the films, detailing the ascent of David Levinson to the head of the ESD and the accidental death of Steve Hiller (Will Smith's character) during a test flight of alien-hybrid technology.
The film introduces a non-biological alien intelligence (the Sphere) that offers humanity advanced technology to join an interstellar resistance against the Harvesters, setting the stage for a potential (though unmade) third film. Independence Day: Resurgence
A significant backstory detail mentioned in the film is a 10-year ground war in sub-Saharan Africa, where local warlords defeated a landed alien "city destroyer" in hand-to-hand combat. This prequel novel bridges the 20-year gap between
Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) expands the franchise with several "features," ranging from expanded lore in other media to significant plot shifts in the sequel itself. Key Lore and Plot Features Independence Day: Resurgence
A central feature of the sequel is the establishment of the ESD, an international military defense and research organization formed by the United Nations to reverse-engineer alien technology and protect Earth from future invasions.
A free mobile strategy game titled Independence Day: Resurgence - Battle Heroes was released by Zen Studios, allowing players to command fleets in the IDR universe.
