“I Am Legend 2” Updates: Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan Team Up
More than ten years after its original release in 2007, the post-apocalyptic horror film “I Am Legend” starring Will Smith is set to receive a long-awaited sequel.
Following a substantial multi-year deal with Warner Bros., screenwriter Avika Goldsman, known for his work on the original film, has confirmed the development of “I Am Legend 2”. The first installment, an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel, garnered an impressive $585 million worldwide, with Will Smith playing the lead role of virologist Robert Neville, a lone survivor in a world plagued by a manufactured disease striving to find a cure.
While specific details about the film remain tightly guarded, here is what we have gathered about “I Am Legend 2.”
A Dynamic Duo: Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan to Lead
Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan are slated to take center stage in “I Am Legend 2.” While Smith will reprise his role as Robert Neville, details regarding Jordan’s character remain mysterious. Additionally, both actors will assume roles as producers for the sequel, promising an even more gripping cinematic experience.
Embracing the Original Vision
Avika Goldsman has confirmed that “I Am Legend 2” will pay homage to the conclusion of Matheson’s novel and the alternate ending of the original film, where Smith’s character emerges triumphant.
Goldsman remarked, “We revisit the roots of the Matheson book and the alternative ending as opposed to the theatrical release… Matheson posited that humanity’s reign as the dominant species on this planet had reached its conclusion. This is a concept we’re eager to delve into. We’re striving for a deeper fidelity to the original text.”
Prequel Plans Put to Rest
Following the initial film’s success, there was speculation surrounding a potential prequel to “I Am Legend.” However, director Francis Lawrence dispelled these rumors in 2011, stating, “No, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.”
“The Last of Us” Influence on Avika Goldsman’s Creative Process
The widely acclaimed post-apocalyptic video game “The Last of Us,” which recently saw an HBO adaptation featuring Pedro Pascal in 2023, was pivotal in inspiring Avika Goldsman’s work on “I Am Legend 2.”
“I’m captivated by ‘The Last of Us,’ where we witness a world just after the apocalypse, but also after a substantial time lapse of 20-30 years,” Goldsman explained. “We see nature reclaiming the world, and there’s a profound beauty in the question of what occurs when humans are no longer the primary inhabitants. This will be especially pronounced in the backdrop of New York. While I can’t confirm a climb up the Empire State Building, the possibilities are boundless.”
Alicia Braga’s Return on the Horizon
Alicia Braga, who portrayed a fellow survivor of the vampire-like plague alongside Smith in the original film, is eager to reprise her role in the sequel. In an interview with Collider, Braga expressed her surprise and curiosity about the sequel’s development, exclaiming, “Can I please be in it? Can I please be in it?” She praised Avika Goldsman, expressing her excitement about the project’s continuation.
As anticipation for “I Am Legend 2” continues to mount, fans are eager to witness the dynamic collaboration between Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan in this highly anticipated sequel.
