Summary
“I Am Legend 2” is finally in development after over 15 years, with Will Smith returning and Michael B. Jordan joining the cast.
The sequel will ignore the original ending, taking place decades later and exploring a post-apocalyptic world inspired by “The Last of Us.”
While still in pre-production, the script is being penned by Akiva Goldsman, but it’s unclear if director Francis Lawrence will return.
After over 15 years, Warner Bros. is finally moving forward with I Am Legend 2, a sequel to the 2007 sci-fi horror hit, but updates are still sparse. Will Smith starred in the original I Am Legend, a critical and commercial success directed by Francis Lawrence. The movie adaptation is based on the classic novel of the same name by the late Richard Matheson, and it’s widely considered a highlight of the big-budget CGI blockbusters that 2000s cinema is now synonymous with. The sci-fi flick also remains one of the strongest entries in Will Smith’s filmography.
Since the success of I Am Legend, there has long been talk of an I Am Legend 2. However, Will Smith was a big factor in this success, but his character Robert Neville died in the controversial climax. While a prequel had been suggested, an I Am Legend sequel was eventually greenlit, with Michael B. Jordan signing on and Will Smith shockingly returning, even though Smith rarely returns for sequels. Though it’ll be a while until an I Am Legend 2 actually arrives, there are still plenty of exciting updates.
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The Latest I Am Legend 2 News
Will Smith Offers A Development Update
With things moving slowly on the long-awaited sequel, the latest news sees star Will Smith discuss the development of I Am Legend 2. The Oscar-winning actor candidly discussed his time with co-star Michael B. Jordan and assured audiences that movement is still happening behind the scenes despite over a year of radio silence. While he couldn’t offer much by way of concrete news, Smith did praise Jordan and seemed legitimately excited about the prospect of making the film.
Read Smith’s comments below:
We had a couple weeks together about a month ago. I think it’s looking good. [We have some] really solid ideas… I think we’re going to make it on screen together. That dude is the truth, so I would love to do that.
I Am Legend 2 Is Confirmed
I Am Legend 2 Is On The Way
On March 4, 2022, reports confirmed that Warner Bros. was actively developing I Am Legend 2. In an encouraging sign, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman is returning to pen the script. An I Am Legend sequel, originally planned as a prequel starring Smith, was teased for several years following the success of the original movie, but it ultimately didn’t pan out. However, though I Am Legend 2 updates are becoming more common, it still isn’t clear if director Francis Lawrence will also be back.
I Am Legend 2 Production Status
The Sequel Is Still In Pre-Production
I Am Legend 2
has not escaped development hell yet, and there is no indication when it will.
Despite a wealth of exciting updates, I Am Legend 2 is still very much locked in the pre-production phase. The movie has been gestating for a decade and a half, and it has yet to completely solidify into an official piece of the Warner Bros. slate. Often referred to as “production hell”, the sequel hasn’t been able to get off the ground for a variety of reasons.
I Am Legend
is available for purchase or rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, and Google Play.
However, in May 2024, Smith reassured fans that work was still being done on the beleaguered sequel and expressed his enthusiasm for the project. Despite Smith’s excitement, I Am Legend 2 has not escaped development hell yet, and there is no indication when it will.
I Am Legend 2 Cast
Will Smith & Michael B. Jordan Will Lead The Cast
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Will Smith will be returning as Robert Neville in I Am Legend 2, and it has also been confirmed that Creed star Michael B. Jordan will join the cast. While there is no information about the character he’s playing yet, Jordan’s star-power will certainly help lift the long-awaited sequel. Given Alice Braga’s comments about wanting to be a part of the cast, it’s entirely possible she also could be returning in her role as Anna. No other names have been added, and casting probably won’t start in earnest for quite some time.
I Am Legend 2 Story Details
How Will Neville Return In The Sequel?
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Goldsman gave some pivotal I Am Legend 2 updates regarding the movie’s story details, and he confirmed it will take place decades after the events of the first movie. He also confirmed the new movie would do away with the original ending in which Neville sacrifices himself to kill the mutants and allows Anna and Ethan to escape. Instead, the sequel will follow the alternate ending that was closer to the I Am Legend book.
In the ending that I Am Legend 2 will follow, Neville realizes the infected aren’t there to kill him, but rather to save one of their own — the infected that Neville captured as a test subject. He then understands that they see him as a monster, just as he sees them. Goldsman also pointed to The Last of Us as a strong inspiration for the sequel. He admitted that he was interested in examining a post-apocalyptic world after nature had taken over once again. He also hinted that the story would take place in New York City just as I Am Legend did.
The fact that Goldsman intends to make the sequel much closer to the source material is the best I Am Legend 2 update possible, as the movie can delve into the idea of zombie societies and how they separated themselves into different social groups. This also gives credence to the theory that Michael B. Jordan will play a Darkseeker in I Am Legend 2.
I Am Legend 2
I Am Legend 2 is a sequel to the 2007 film that sees Will Smith reprise his role as Dr. Robert Neville. Despite the theatrical release of the original film showing Neville’s demise, the film picks up where the alternate ending left off, with Neville surviving and heading off to spread the cure.
I Am Legend
Summary: Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure in this post-apocalyptic action thriller.
Release Date: 2007-12-14
Budget: $150 million
Cast: willow smith, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan
Director: Francis Lawrence
Genres: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 101 minutes
Writers: Akiva Goldsman, Mark Protosevich
Studio(s): Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures