Independence Day Director Launches Space Nation Cross-Media Franchise

Renowned director Roland Emmerich, known for his work on blockbuster films such as Independence Day, Stargate, and Godzilla, has joined forces with former World of Warcraft senior project manager Jerome Wu to launch a groundbreaking multimedia franchise called Space Nation.

According to Deadline, Space Nation will kick off with a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). In this immersive gaming experience, players will assume the roles of ship captains, embarking on an extraordinary journey to unravel the enigmas of the Telikos Cluster and engage with the unfolding epic space opera. Set in a universe populated by diverse alien species, the game revolves around three distinct factions, each with their own ideologies and objectives. The alpha test for the online game is slated for August of this year, with a full commercial launch expected in mid-2024. Once the MMORPG is live, it will be followed by a Space Nation television series, along with animated shorts and spinoff games.

Emmerich, the co-founder, co-creator, and Chief Creative Officer of Space Nation, commented on Hollywood's increasing interest in the world of video games, recognizing the medium's popularity and storytelling potential. He stated, "The expansive universe we’re building in Space Nation is a tremendous opportunity to captivate audiences wherever they consume entertainment with innovative new forms of storytelling."

With this ambitious project, Emmerich and Wu aim to harness the immersive power of gaming and explore the limitless possibilities of storytelling in a multi-platform universe. The Space Nation franchise promises to be a groundbreaking venture that merges the realms of gaming, television, and animation to captivate audiences in unprecedented ways.

Who Is Roland Emmerich?

Roland Emmerich, the esteemed German film director renowned for his work in the science fiction and disaster genres, has made a name for himself with a string of notable films. Emmerich's directorial debut came with the 1984 film The Noah's Ark Principle, and he went on to co-found Centropolis Entertainment alongside his sister in 1985. He gained global recognition after directing Universal Soldier (1992) and Stargate (1994), but it was his 1996 science fiction blockbuster Independence Day, starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, that propelled him to new heights. The film achieved tremendous box office success, grossing over $800 million worldwide. In 2016, a sequel titled Independence Day: Resurgence was released.

Emmerich's filmography also includes notable titles such as Godzilla (1998), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 10,000 BC (2008), 2012 (2009), White House Down (2013), Midway (2019), and Moonfall (2022). Currently, he is in production on the epic sword-and-sandal series Those About To Die, a captivating exploration of the world of gladiators in Ancient Rome. Starring Anthony Hopkins, the series will be exclusively streamed on Peacock.

Jerome Wu, CEO and co-creator of Space Nation, expressed the team's vision to redefine the boundaries of entertainment in a rapidly evolving landscape. "With our collaborative efforts, we aim to transform the way content is consumed, shared, and experienced," Wu stated.

Emmerich and Wu are joined in their endeavor by Tony Tang, known for his work on the online game Warframe, as well as film producer Marco Weber. Notably, Space Nation has secured $50 million in financial backing from prominent investors such as Chain Hill Capital, Foresight Ventures, Lighthouse Capital, SevenX Ventures, HashKey Capital, Arcane Group, Initiate Capital, JDAC Capital, Assembly Partners, and Cristian Manea.

The highly anticipated Space Nation MMORPG is set to launch in August 2023, promising an immersive and revolutionary gaming experience for players around the world.

Via Deadline