Almost 15 years since the post-apocalyptic thriller was first released, I Am Legend is getting a sequel. Deadline and Variety have confirmed that Warner Bros. is reigniting the story, bringing original star Will Smith back along for the ride, but this time, he’s not alone. The King Richard actor is set to be joined by Creed’s Michael B. Jordan, marking the first time the two superstars have shared the screen.
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According to reports, the I Am Legend sequel will be produced by Academy Award-winner Akiva Goldsman. The script-writer famously adapted Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel of the same name for the 2007 edition, albeit took some liberties with the final few scenes. Nevertheless, the film was a major success, taking home a whopping USD$77 million upon opening, which at the time was the largest-ever box office opening for a non-Christmas film released in December. I Am Legend then went on to earn over USD$585 million at the box office globally.
In the 2007 film, Smith played a virologist named Robert Neville, who found himself stranded in New York City after a man-made plague turned human beings into a blood-thirsty race of mutants. Refusing to believe himself to be the last remaining man on Earth, Neville’s futile efforts to make contact with other survivors was painstaking to watch, while his slow descent into madness, utterly heart-breaking. At the time, Smith was lauded for his performance, however, fell just short of an Oscar nod, something he may soon rectify with King Richard.
The actor just took home the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Richard Williams, father of tennis dynamos Serena and Venus Williams. The box-office superstar also picked up a Best Actor nomination at this year’s Academy Awards, which will be held later this month.
While Smith did take to Instagram to confirm the upcoming I Am Legend project, remaining details surrounding the sequel are scarce. No director has been attached to the film at present and no information regarding the script has been outlined, however, there is a lot at stake for this release. Revisiting a universally loved film 15 years after it first hit the screen is one thing, but tackling themes that involve a deadly virus that decimates the general population and forces survivors indoors? Considering the past few years, it might hit a little too close to home.
