“I Am Legend 2” is a go, and Will Smith is reportedly set to reprise his role in the spooky sequel. The original film was released in 2007 and saw Smith portraying the character of Dr. Robert Neville. The doctor was a lone survivor of a zombie-like apocalypse that turned humans into creators who came out at night called Darkseekers. At the end of the movie, Smith’s character seemingly died while appearing to use his blood to hopefully create a cure.
However, in March 2022, it was revealed that the movie would have a sequel, and that Smith would be involved. In addition, the “Independence Day” actor will also be joined by “Creed’ star Michael B. Jordan for the project. Jordan is also set to produce the movie.
Will Smith returning for I Am Legend 2
“I Am Legend 2” is expected to follow up with the original movie’s alternate ending. In addition, the sequel is said to be set several years after the 2007 film. “This will start a few decades later than the first,” producer Akiva Goldsman previously told Deadline of the movie..
“I’m obsessed with The Last of Us, where we see the world just post-apocalypse but also after a 20-30-year lapse. You see how the earth reclaims the world, and there’s something beautiful in the question of, as man steps away from being the primary tenant, what happens? That will be especially visual in New York. I don’t know if they’ll climb up to the Empire State Building, but the possibilities are endless,” he continued.
The sequel will likely follow the source material more closely
“We trace back to the original Matheson book, and the alternate ending as opposed to the released ending in the original film. What Matheson was talking about was that man’s time on the planet as the dominant species had come to an end. That’s a really interesting thing we’re going to get to explore. There will be a little more fidelity to the original text.”
According to Insider, the sequel will stay closer to the source material and give more detail about the creatures. Although the film has been greenlit, it may be some time before fans get to see it. However, fans are hoping that it’s sooner rather than later. Sadly, the writers and actors strikes in Hollywood may delay the project even further.