- Nasima Akter
Will Smith’s I Am Legend 2: Date, Plot, Cast, and More
The highly awaited follow-up, titled I Am Legend 2, is now confirmed to be in development, with Will Smith reprising his role as the main character. Akiva Goldsman, who wrote the screenplay for the original I Am Legend film, is still in charge of crafting this post-apocalyptic narrative. Goldsman's production company, Weed Road, has secured an impressive agreement with Warner Bros. to bring this exciting project to fruition. The storyline is said to be quite impressive and engaging.
After its official announcement in March 2022, I Am Legend 2 has captured the attention of enthusiastic fans. Yet, the exact release date for the movie hasn't been revealed yet, as the production is still in its initial phases of creation.
Coming back to portray his iconic character is Will Smith, known for his role as Dr. Robert Neville in the original film. The sequel will pick up from the alternate ending of the first movie, a choice that reintegrates Smith's character into the narrative.
Joining the cast is Michael B. Jordan, a well-recognized actor from successful films such as Black Panther and Creed. Jordan's participation has played a crucial role in advancing the progress of the sequel, contributing an additional element of excitement to the storyline.
Although detailed plot information is being closely guarded, a few hints have surfaced. I Am Legend 2 will jump ahead by several decades from the occurrences of the original film, delving into a setting where nature has reclaimed cityscapes. This post-apocalyptic environment draws inspiration from the rich world of The Last of Us, a well-received video game and HBO series.
The sequel will utilize the alternate ending from the 2007 film as a starting point and portray the post-apocalyptic world after "a lapse of 20-30 years."
"This will start a few decades later than the first," Goldsman previously told Deadline of the sequel, adding that The Last of Us was an inspiration for him.
He said: "I’m obsessed with The Last of Us, where we see the world just post apocalypse but also after a 20-30-year lapse. It 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 added: "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."
Initially, the concept for I Am Legend 2 revolved around a prequel, tracing the journey of Smith's character, Richard Neville, before the mutant outbreak. However, this idea was eventually discarded.
Speaking on an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, director Francis Lawrence admitted that "it just felt forced to do a prequel", before adding: "We've done the last man on earth, he died at the end of the movie, we can't do it again."
I Am Legend 2 brings the potential to revive the intense suspense that characterized the first film. With the involvement of both Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan, this sequel is poised to become a highly anticipated contribution to the post-apocalyptic genre.
Keep an eye out for further updates as the project progresses.
