(Image source: Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures)
Just as Steven Spielberg's 2005 blockbuster "War of the Worlds" celebrated its 20th anniversary last month, a new remake is now gearing up for release. Directed by visual effects veteran Rich Lee and executive produced by "Wanted" filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, the official trailer dropped this morning, with the film slated to premiere July 30 on Amazon Prime Video.
Watch the first trailer below: ▼
(Image source: Universal Pictures)
This iteration of "War of the Worlds" actually wrapped production in 2020, but for reasons unknown, Universal Pictures held onto it for five years before quietly releasing it to Amazon for streaming. The biggest departure from previous adaptations is its "Screenlife" format, unfolding entirely through computer and phone screens. This distinctive style has become a hallmark of Bekmambetov's recent producing credits, including the "Searching" series, the "Unfriended" series, and "Profile."
The film's plot also bears a resemblance to "Searching," centering on a father who uses various communication devices to rescue his daughter from peril. However, the father in this film is a cybersecurity analyst who uncovers the aliens' true motive for invading Earth: to drain humanity's "virtual data." Ice Cube stars as the analyst father, with other cast members including Eva Longoria and Clark Gregg.