Spoilers for I am Legend, which came out in 2007
I watched 2007’s I am Legend for the first time just a couple of years ago, early in lockdown. It’s a twist on the zombie genre, with Will Smith’s character playing the only survivor in New York City. I am Legend is an enjoyable and fresh post-apocalyptic movie. The zombie-type creatures, called Darkseekers, can only come out at night, they’re smart and have leaders who plan attacks. Smith’s character, an army virologist named Robert Neville, is alone for a large portion of the movie and he completely carries it, much like Tom Hanks carried Cast Away. There are some other characters Neville meets up with who are able to escape to a safe area. Now there’s news of a sequel, co-starring and produced by both Will Smith and Michael B Jordan. It’s being written by Akiva Goldsman, who wrote the first screenplay as an adaptation of the 1954 book by Richard Matheson.
Warner Bros. is upping the stakes on its I Am Legend franchise to a stratospheric level. For its next chapter, the studio is bringing back not only original star Will Smith but also Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan in what will rep the duo’s first big movie together as stars and producers.
Plot details, of course, are being kept under wraps.
Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman, who adapted the Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel for the original 2007 movie, also is returning to pen the follow-up and produce as well.
All these deals are closed, I understand, but no director is attached as the project still is being developed. Francis Lawrence directed the original I Am Legend.
[From Deadline]
Spoiler – Will Smith’s character dies at the end, having handed over the cure. Will he be shown in flashbacks or in the videos he made? Apparently the DVD release has an extended alternate ending where Neville survives. You can read the details of that here and it’s even on YouTube if you want to watch it. It’s really deep and gave me goosebumps. It also occurred to me that the CGI for the Darkseekers will of course be so much better now. I love zombie movies and the “zombie recovery” genre is wide open, with very few films addressing it. Warm Bodies and The Girl with All the Gifts are the only ones that come to mind, but I’m sure there are more.
I’m excited for this sequel and am happy to hear that Michael B. Jordan is co-starring. It’s almost as if Will is passing the torch to a younger generation. Also, Will is considered the frontrunner for Best Actor after winning the SAG award. As Samuel L. Jackson recently said, an Oscar doesn’t move the comma on your check, but it’s recognition from the industry and Will may be about to receive that.
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