Smith And Jordan Set For “I Am Legend” Sequel
Will Smith has made a career off of choosing eclectic projects to star it. He might be most well-known for his roles in Independence Day, the Bad Boys franchise, and more recently, DC’s Suicide Squad, but for every rollicking actioner, there is a more personal, intense feature, such as Ali or The Pursuit of Happiness. And one film, in particular, 2007’s I Am Legend stands out from the pack as a combination of Smith’s primary choices, as it’s every bit as action-packed as one would want from a summer blockbuster, but there is a dramatic undercurrent that pushes the film forward that is very different from what audiences are accustomed to.
Legend is an action-horror movie set years after a deadly plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into zombie-like monsters, with Smith remaining as the sole survivor, who just happens to be the only person who was immune. He was a military doctor working on a cure and he chose to remain in New York City after the fall to continue his research and try and save what’s left of the human race.
The film was based off of the famed Richard Matheson-penned 1954 novel and Smith’s performance as the lead was widely hailed, particularly as he spent the majority of the film acting against a dog or CGI-monsters. In the years since, it’s become something of a cult classic, with fans still heaping praise onto it.
Interestingly, Warner Bros. has announced that they are moving ahead with a sequel, that is set to see Smith return alongside Michael B. Jordan (Creed). Akiva Goldsman is also returning to write the script and produce alongside Elizabeth Raposo, Greg Lessans and Jon Mone.
Exactly how Smith is going to come back is anyone’s guess, as his character appeared to sacrifice himself at the end so that the cure could make it out of NYC and into the hands of a walled community to the north. Currently, plot specifications are under wraps, though it seems likely that Smith will only appear via flashbacks, with Jordan perhaps portraying Smith’s son (who was thought dead in the first film).
The I Am Legend sequel doesn’t have any timetable available currently, and director has been announced, though Francis Lawrence was at the helm for the first, so he seems like a good possibility.
