The sequel of the hit 1996 blockbuster film Independence Day is underway, and Ronald Emmerich has revealed a couple of new updates about the film. Emmerich also revealed the reason why Will Smith will not return for Independence Day: Resurgence and the movie's connection to President Obama.

Filming has long started for Independence Day: Resurgence and the film's director Ronald Emmerich recently revealed the new technology used in the film: a machine which he calls the 'Moon Tug'.

Emmerich posted a selfie with the machine on social media, although it didn't exactly explain what the machine does. "Anybody want to take this thing for a spin? Get an exclusive first look at the Moon Tug! ‪#‎IndependenceDayLive ‪#‎selfiesfromset" the photo's caption read.

Aside from the 'Moon Tug', another revelation from Emmerich is the reason why Will Smith did not come back to reprise his role as Capt. Steve Hiller in the movie's sequel, "In the very beginning, I wanted to work with him and he was excited to be in it but then after a while he was tired of sequels, and he did another science fiction film, which was his father-son story, so he opted out," he said.  The movie Emmerich was referring to is reportedly M. Night Shyamalan's 'After Earth' which he starred with his son Jaden Smith.

Meanwhile, many Independence Day fans might be wondering as to the film's sequel took a while before happening. Apparently, George W. Bush has something to do with it as Emmerich said,  "In Independence Day, it was about a king who leads his country into a fight against an outside invader. I didn't want to make that movie during the Bush years. It was not thought that George W. Bush would have made a great king. Now with Obama, it's another story." he revealed.

The film's plot has also been revealed, and it seems like the human race' lessons learned from the 1996 film would be of use as the official synopsis read:

"We always knew they were coming back. After INDEPENDENCE DAY redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens' advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction."

Independence Day: Resurgence will star Jeff Goldblum, Maika Monroe, Liam Hemsworth, Sela Ward, Vivica A. Fox, and many others. It is set to hit theaters in June 24, 2016.