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Roland Emmerich is a German screenwriter, director and producer. He was born on November 10, 1955 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He is best known for his work on Sci-Fi action films such as Stargate, Independence Day and Godzilla.

Emmerich studied at the Munich Film and Television School. While in school he produced and directed the film The Noah's Ark Principle which debuted at the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. The film is said to have been the most expensive student production in Germany. Later he created the production company, Centropolis Films and directed the films Making Contact, Ghost chase and Moon 44 which he also financed.

His first Hollywood film was Universal Soldier starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as genetically engineered soldiers. Inspired by a documentary on Erich von Däniken's Chariots of the Gods, Erich followed up with the film Stargate which he co wrote with Dean Devlin. Despite bad press that resulted from disagreements with executive producer Mario Kassar about the final editing, the film was a surprising success. The duo was later sued for plagiarizing a story by an Egyptology student. The issue was settled out of court.

Independence Day, Emmerich's first real blockbuster hit, was originally intended as a sequel to Stargate. He co wrote the film with Devlin and also produced and directed it. The film starred Will Smith and went on to become one of the biggest box office hits of all time. Working with Devlin again, Emmerich executive produced the Fox drama The Visitor starring John Corbett as Adam MacArthur who mysteriously returns after having disappeared over forty years ago. The series lasted only 12 episodes.

Emmerich followed up with Godzilla. The film was panned by critics but was a commercial success. He also served as executive producer on Godzilla: The Series and produced the Sci-Fi thriller The Thirteenth Floor. Emmerich took a break from science fiction to direct The Patriot which starred Mel Gibson as a military leader in the American Revolution.

He returned to science fiction and produced Eight Legged Freaks. His next hit film was the disaster film The Day After Tomorrow which he wrote , produced, and directed. His prehistoric epic, 10, 000 B. C. was panned by critics.

Currently in production for 2009 are the sci-fi action films Isobar and 2012. In 2010, Emmerich plans to bring the remake of the 1966 adventure Fantastic Voyage to theaters.

External Links

NY Times -Roland Emmerich

IMDB - Roland Emmerich

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