Dubai takes centrestage once again as Hollywood sets its sights on more local film shoots, with the director of 'Independence Day: Resurgence' not ruling out returning to the emirate for the reboot of 'Stargate'.

And although Roland Emmerich does not promise Burj Khalifa would be spared even this time around, he does appear keen on exploring more of Dubai's desert landscape for his next sci-fi reboot.

"We had planned a long sequence featuring Dubai for 'Independence Day: Resurgence', but budget constraints didn't allow us to come here this time around," revealed Emmerich.

Film director Roland Emmerich

The film director made this candid confession as he flew down to the emirate, along with his cast members Jeff Goldblum and Liam Hemsworth, in the midst of a promotional blitzkrieg that has seen the trio jet across continents in the lead up to the sequel's global release.

For UAE residents, who will see the sci-fi action film as its Eid release, the sequel holds special meaning, what with a certain building - the world's tallest one at that - flying through the air as part of 'Independence Day: Resurgence's' gravity-defying sequences.

The irony isn't lost on anyone, least of all the cast members and their director, who stayed at the Armani Hotel during their stay in Dubai over the weekend, with Goldblum joking their presence hasn't changed the status of the tower.

"It's still standing when we left. I promise," he said, addressing UAE media in a press interaction.

The sequel picks up 20 years after its predecessor ended, with mankind saved from the nefarious clutches of invading aliens.

While Emmerich returned to direct the film, along with Goldblum reprising his role as David Levinson, Will Smith was nowhere to be found.

The director confesses Smith's absence was felt.

"We wrote the script a couple of years ago with Will in it. But he was unable to do the film and I won't lie, I was disappointed," confessed Emmerich. "But we also took this as an opportunity for us look forward and pass the mantle to a new generation of heroes. That's how Liam came on board."

Hemsworth plays Jake Morrison, filling in the shoes for Smith in a manner as a fighter pilot, even though the latter's on-screen stepson is also playing a crucial role in the film.

Actor Liam Hemsworth

"My character has this chip on his shoulder, and he is connected with the film's backstory as well, as his parents were killed in the first alien invasion in 1996," he said. "But his outspoken behaviour lands him on to the moon, transporting weapons on our military base there. That's when the next invasion happens."

Hemsworth, who confessed his earliest memory of the original 'Independence Day' was from back when he was six-years-old, said he wanted to bring something of his own to the film.

"I wanted an physical altercation with an alien in the film," he shared. "The scene where Will Smith punches the alien in the face was so iconic, that I wanted a similar one to pay tribute to it and Roland was good enough to fit it in."

Goldblum, who seemed to be at the top of his spirits during the press interaction, spoke about reprising his role in the sequel saying: "I came back because I thought, I have never done a sequel before, not one with a 20-year gap. And I was confident of Roland to do justice to it."

Quizzed whether he was worried the sequel may not live up to the iconic status of its predecessor and Goldblum said: "Acting is not a fearless profession. I like situations where I am a little scared."

Ask Emmerich if Dubai would feature in some manner in his upcoming film projects and he doesn't rule it out.

"Well, we've already blown up Burj Khalifa this time around in 'Independence Day: Resurgence', so we thought we might spare it in another sci-fi adventure," he laughed. "But the desert landscape of Dubai could perhaps serve as a great backdrop for a reboot of 'Stargate'. That is something that could happen.

"Plus, you have the desert and great hotels. And that's the first question Hollywood wants answered. How good are the hotels to stay in?"

'Independence Day: Resurgence' releases in the UAE on the first day of Eid-Al-Fitr.