They have returned in the first 'Independence Day: Resurgence' trailer

In 1996, Independence Day redefined the science fiction disaster film genre forever and set a new standard for future films. The groundbreaking special effects along with the score and acting helped carry the film. It made science fiction fun again and brought that genre back to the forefront in movies. For years, rumors swirled around Hollywood about a sequel. Considering how the first film ended, I think it would be hard to make a sequel. Difficulties with the plot, the number of sequels, getting Will Smith to return, and other issues halted the project. Now, 20 years later, Director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day after Tomorrow, White House Down) brings the aliens for some payback.

From the trailer, a lot of advancements have been made by humankind using what remained of the alien technology left after the first attack, using it to protect the world. The unknown danger of the aliens' return has plagued the survivors of that war. Their fears seemed to be realized by David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) discovering active alien structures in a desert. From there, we see the characters, old and new, look as the aliens have made their return, bigger and more destructive than ever.

The official premise of the film:

"We always knew they would come back. After Independence Day redefined the event movie genre, the next chapter delivers catastrophe 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."

The film brings back Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, and Brent Spiner reprising their roles from the original film. Newcomers include Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games film series), Jessie Usher (Starz TV Series Survivor's Remorse) to portray the role of the stepson of Smith's character and Sela Ward (CSI: NY, Gone Girl) as U.S. President Lanford.

Because of the twenty year gap between the two films, a fictional "commemorative" historic site has been established to cover that time period since the "War of 1996" at www.warof1996.com.

Independence Day: Resurgence will be released on June 24, 2016.

For everyone else's entertainment, here is one of the best speeches I've ever seen in film. Tell me it doesn't still give you chills: