Roland Emmerich Goes Deep on Moonfall, Why He Didn’t Want to do Godzilla, and His Long Career

If you’re a fan of Roland Emmerich and would love to hear him talk about his career, you’re about to be very happy. That’s because last week, after a long break due to COVID, the Collider/IMAX screening relaunched in Los Angeles with Emmerich’s newest movie, Moonfall — and after the screening ended, he participated in an extended Q&A.

During the 45-minute conversation, Emmerich shared some great behind-the-scenes stories about making Moonfall, how they pulled off the complicated VFX on their budget, and why he wanted to cast John Bradley. He also spoke about what they had to go through to get Donald Sutherland to agree to be in the movie, why people love watching end of the world movies, being surprised NASA wanted to be involved, and tons of other cool behind-the-scenes stories that directors rarely share.

But for me, the best parts of the Q&A were hearing Emmerich talk about how he got into directing, what it was like having his first and only film in German get into the Berlin Film Festival, and why he didn’t want to direct Godzilla. We also had a great time talking about how he tried to direct Gladiator but when he met with Steven Spielberg, they had just given the project to Ridley Scott, and other stories you’ll be surprised to hear.

If you haven’t seen the trailer, or the first five minutes of the movie, Moonfall tells the story of an unlikely team of individuals (Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson and Bradley) who are tasked with saving the Earth when the moon is knocked off its orbit by a mysterious force and comes hurtling towards earth. Moonfall also stars Michael Peña, Kelly Yu, Eme Ikwuakor, Carolina Bartczak, Sutherland, and Charlie Plummer.

Roland Emmerich
If someone has never seen anything he’s directed before, what is the first thing they should watch and why?
Which of his films changed the most in the editing room and why?
How he became a director.
What was his reaction when he saw Star Wars and Close Encounters when he was younger?
What was it like for him directing his first sci-fi movie after having such a strong reaction to other sci-fi movies?
How his first film (and his only film in German) ended up in the Berlin Film Festival.
Which of his over 20 films were the toughest to get financing on and why?
He breaks down how much Moonfall cost to make and the various things they had to pay for like COVID protection etc.
How it’s very hard to get original movies made nowadays.
Does he have any interest in revisiting his older movies and fixing anything or tweaking a VFX shot?
I play word association with him where I mention one of his movies and he says the first word or two that goes with it. The movies include Universal Solider, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Patriot, The Day After Tomorrow, and Stonewall.
Why he did everything he could to not make Godzilla.
Why do people love watching end of the world movies?
How did Moonfall change when he was putting it together?
Did he have a much longer cut of Moonfall?
The challenges of doing Moonfall on the budget he had. Talks about how they didn’t have a second unit and having to cut out 8 or 9 shooting days.
How does it work when he hires a VFX company for shots and what it costs?
How he was surprised NASA was willing to be involved in the film.
How did NASA help?
Had he been watching Game of Thrones and said I want John Bradley for the movie?
How did casting work with Lionsgate?
What were the most complicated VFX shots to pull off and why?
How did they script and design the car chase in changing gravity?
How did they design the inside of the Moon’s superstructure?
The challenges of getting Donald Sutherland to agree to be in the movie.
Has he read any other conspiracy theories that have made him think about making a movie based on the idea?
When does Harald Kloser start writing the music?
The Shining homage in Moonfall.
Bradley’s character arc and how they figured it out.
After 20 something films, how has Emmerich changed on set when he is directing?
Why he was stressed at the beginning of the shoot.
How many takes does he like to do?
Why he always starts with the master.
How does he like to direct someone when they are reacting to something that will be added in post-production?
Why did he want to work with cinematographer Robby Baumgartner on Moonfall?
Has he thought about developing any television projects?
How after Independence Day was a huge hit, he met with Steven Spielberg about projects he might want to do. He was interested in Gladiator but they had given the project to Ridley Scott a week or two before.

#Moonfall #Godzilla #RolandEmmerich

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[ethanholgate]

Loved Moonfall classic Roland Emmerich great q&a and questions he got asked hear I can't believe it's not making huge money cause man do I badly want to see his trilogy he's got planned for this 🤞😬 funny with what he said about Godzilla I actually really like his Godzilla movie I view it more as his version of it, it's fun and entertaining to me anyways

[dellyortega]

Favorite Part 10:56 where they talk about Godzilla.

[filmmaker]

Moonfall was brain meltingly enjoyable.

[junior]

Roland Emmerich better do a moonfall sequel

[hariswani]

I'm a huge fan of moonfall seriously I love you guys

[aaronsoriginalworks]

Roland Emmerich is my teacher and mentor of good storytelling that uses Disastrous and World Ending Scenarios and Events.

I haven't met him in person but I want to someday just to thank him for helping me improve my creative writing skills and talent.

My Top 3 Most Favorite Films by him are:

1.) The Day after Tomorrow (2004)

2.) 10, 000 BC (2008)

And last but not least,

3.) 2012 (2009)


Sadly, Moonfall was a disappointment to me.

I watched and finished it, and it just disappointed me, especially the ending.

Sensei, you can still do better. I know it. I believe I'm you.

I can't wait to watch your newer disaster films!!

🙂👍🏻👍🏻

[MariusWM]

This Moonfall movie has been completely panned in my country

[MaresaEngo]

Is it possible at all that when the moon gets close to the Earth the gravity will pull it down and there will be a Moonfall? Every time there is a Super Moon this is my concern. In this case, there's no alien technology involved...just plain gravity.

[angelolima]

What about space nation and moon fall tv series

[soulslayergamer]

Roland Emmerich should never touch Godzilla, that movie was trash.

[angelolima]

Too long for the original version of moonfall i wish it would of been longer so much creation to a new world

[TheMrfoxguy]

Shouldve went with your gut instinct roland and not made godzilla

[tylerpurrden]

I wish there wasn't such a push to get people back into movie theaters. There are still almost 4, 000 people dying *every day* from CV, Omicron is the most contagious strain yet, but corporations pressured the govt I to retracting the mask mandate and folks are just, nah, leave the mask at home, everything's okay 😭💔

[LuisRivera-jkvo]

💢Ugh😤I Hate That Director Roland Emmerich Many Times The Guy Who Ruin & Killed The Franchise Of Godzilla For The Mediocre Movie Of😠
1998 The False American Godzilla [Scoffs] Pathetic!! Bloody Hell I Will Never Forgive You What have you Done for change of Godzilla for the style of the Iguana Theropod Thing with the face like a D***! WTF
& you destroy The Godzilla Character in history and disrespectful with the Toho Films Oh Mr. Roland Emmerich That's why I'm not Big Fan of you and your Movies
Except The Movie Of 2012 gets me Nervous, Nightmares and Traumatized Too!!😡

[sastaassh]

Lol all his movies are garbage except for 2012😂😂