Roland Emmerich

Roland Emmerich born 10 November 1955

Roland Emmerich is a German film director, screenwriter, and producer.

Emmerich was born in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He attended the University of Television and Film Munich from 1977 to 1981 and his student film, The Noah's Ark Principle, went on to open the 1984 Berlin Film Festival. Hoping to tap into the American market, Emmerich began directing English-language supernatural fantasy features in his native Germany. Eventually, his science-fiction film Moon 44, went straight to video in the United States and featured Dean Devlin.

Having caught the attention of producer Mario Kassar, Emmerich was invited to America. Devlin would subsequently become Emmerich's writing and producing partner once Emmerich set up shop in Hollywood.

Emmerich was hired to replace director Andrew Davis for the action movie Universal Soldier. The film was followed by two made-for-television movies and a theatrical sequel. Emmerich next helmed the science-fiction film Stargate, an unexpected success that spawned a highly popular and successful media franchise.

Emmerich then hit his blockbuster stride with Independence Day. The alien invasion feature became the first film to gross $100 million in less than a week and went on to become one of the most successful films of all time. His next film, the much-hyped Godzilla, was a critical and commercial failure.

After a change of pace directing the American Revolutionary War film The Patriot, Emmerich returned once again to directing a visual effects-laden adventure with 2004's The Day After Tomorrow.

Emmerich directed 10,000 BC, a film about the journeys of a prehistoric tribe, released in early 2008. He was slated to direct a remake of the 1966 science-fiction film Fantastic Voyage, but the project slipped back into development hell. He is currently directing 2012, an apocalyptic film inspired by the theory that the Mayans prophesied the world's ending in 2012.

In 2006, he pledged $150,000 to the Legacy Project, a campaign dedicated to gay and lesbian film preservation. Emmerich, who is openly gay, made the donation of behalf of Outfest, making it the largest gift in the festival's history.