Warner Bros is going ahead with “I Am Legend 2” after fifteen years, a sequel to the 2007 science-fiction/horror blockbuster “I Am Legend”. Will Smith was the protagonist in the original film which was a commercial success and critically acclaimed, directed by Francis Lawrence who made remarkable movies such as Keanu Reeves starring Constantine(2005) and Jennifer Lawrence starring The Hunger Games franchise. I Am Legend is adapted from the classic novel by the late author Richard Matheson of the same title, is the third film adapted from the book and ironically the first to share the same title as the book. The first movie came in 1964 titled “The Last Man on Earth” and starred prominent American actor Vincent Price whereas the second was released in 1971, it’s title is “The Omega Man” and actor Charlton Heston was the protagonist.
Though there was speculation over the revisit to the 2007 hit film but it didn’t proceed for years. Fans felt that a sequel of I Am Legend will never be made until March this year when Will Smith posted on his official Instagram account a photo of post-apocalyptic Manhattan. On March 4 this year, as per reports it is confirmed that Warner Bros is making I Am Legend 2 and the original writer Akiva Goldsman will be back as well. Will Smith will be reprising his role of Dr Robert Neville and he will be joined by another famous star Michael B. Jordan who did films such as Black Panther(2018), Creed franchise and Without Remorse(2021) and it is being said that surviving characters in the original played by actors Alice Braga and Charlie Tahan will be back.
In the climax of the original, Will Smith’s character sacrifices his life so that his wife Anna and son Ethan could flee with a cure of the Darkseeker virus, now the fans are wondering how the sequel will bring back Dr Robert Neville’s character. An unusual way I Am Legend 2 can retcon the death of the protagonist is by incorporating the widely known alternate climax as canon. In the alternate ending, Dr Neville survives and leaves with his wife and kid. A question in the mind of fans is whether the cure of Darkseeker virus proved effective in these fifteen years.
There is a possibility that the storyline will be half-sequel and hald-prequel, since Will Smith has died in the original therefore it will only depict Michael Jordan’s character in the present and Neville’s character may appear in flashbacks. Currently, Warner Bros has has not revealed when I Am Legend 2’s shooting will begin but one thing is certain, it will be a massive budget blockbuster, will take years and special effects will cover even more time.
