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/vampire-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.
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 monster 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.
That film scarred me a bit….but Will Smith was FANTASTIC. I don’t think he gets the recognition he deserves as a gifted and charismatic actor.
It’s a great film, based on a decent book, but the monsters are mutant vampires not zombies. The cgi should be killer.
OK I will fix that!
I LOL’d when I read about this sequel. I had read the book before the movie came out and somehow knew Hollywood would not have the balls to do the chilling, thoughtful ending. Too cerebral! Why nothing go boom for audience? 🙄 So I was surprised to find out they filmed an ending that was pretty damn close (and stuck it on the DVD as an extra scene)! And now the studio is wishing that’s the one they had gone with. LMAO!!
Sigh…it will probably be some flashback/flash forward nonsense,
I clicked on this article for the dog. I’m a sucker for German Shepherds!! Any word on whether there will be a GSD in the movie? If there is, I’ll see it!
Did you see the original movie?
I did not! Should I? Or does the dog get hurt? I can’t watch dogs getting hurt!
@Roop
Yeah, you should probably see the original movie. You may not like what happens to the dog :'(
This was such a good film and Will was brilliant in it. So was the leader of the mutant/zombies, it was unnerving to watch him. And I bawled the entire scene with the dog; it felt so real how much emotion there was in that scene.
I thought this movie was so well done and I enjoyed it compared to some of the other post-zombie or post apocalyptic movies out there, but I can never watch it again bc of Sam. Will Smith’s heartbreak in that scene was almost tangible, in a way.
I am excited to see a sequel but I hate that the original and the new films are attached to the “I Am Legend” book when they are completely different except for part of the premise and the main character’s name. BOOK SPOILER ALERT:
In the book, Neville spends his time exterminating vampires during the day and becomes a legend among them as a monster because they are sentient and still have human qualities after they are turned. They recreate society and pretty much everyone is a vampire. Neville gets captured and realizes they see him as a ruthless murderer… They live in fear of him. Anyway, totally different!
i never knew it was a book, i always assumed it was the American version of 28 days later because they were so similar. thanks, i learned something new today!
I never knew it was book either! I will totally be looking for it today! Celebitchy should totally put an Amazon link for it!
I’m excited about this! I really enjoyed the first movie and thought Will Smith was great in it. For anyone who liked it, I recommend The Last Man on Earth, a 1964 adaptation of the same story starring Vincent Price. It’s quite eerie and such a good movie.
The ending they went with absolutely ruined the movie. They should have went with the deleted ending. I’m not sure if they used a test audience or not, but I can’t imagine more people would have chosen the former over the other.
Since the plot details are under wraps, I wonder if Will’s character will be shown in flashbacks or maybe MBJ discovers his research and that’s the extent of Will’s role? They’re not going to be able to explain surviving getting blown up.
I agree. The ending they went with made a very sad film beyond bleak! However, it’s all decided by test audiences in many cases as you pointed out. You play it safe by going cynical I guess.
Yes, I wonder how they’re going to bring Will Smith’s character back.
Maybe it’s just me, but I like the original ending better…maybe because I saw it first? But LOVE this genre and loved The Girl with All the Gifts – any other movies in this vein anyone would recommend?
There was also a remake in the ’70s called The Omega Man with Charlton Heston. It’s my favorite version. I like Will Smith but I didn’t find this movie enjoyable.
💯 @H. Agreed. Omega Man was much better. This movie did not do well for a reason. Let it rest in peace.
This is great news. I loved the film and thought about it a lot during lockdown. Really thoughtfully done and Will Smith and ‘Sam’ (the dog) were terrific in it!
Am sure they’ll do loads of flashbacks with Neville, perhaps with Michael B. Jordan as the modern day lead fighting to rebuild society as they spread the cure. Can’t wait!
I’ve never seen a bad picture of Michael B. Jordan. And I’m loving that German Shepherd. What a beautiful animal!
Such a sad film and I was aware of and had seen the alternate ending on YT. The fact he killed his dog always got to me. I mean, if you’re working on a cure and you love your dog, you’d not put your dog down like that. You’d hang on to hope your cure would work on your dog one day! I’m not watching any more apocalyptic films; it’s too much for my mental health these days.