It appears that Warner Bros are moving forward with a follow-up to Will Smith's 2007 vehicle, I Am Legend.
While the star, himself has not yet committed to return, the studio has hired scribe, Arash Amel to pen the script.
The original film, which was a second remake of 1964's The Last Man on Earth, which would later be more famously remade as The Omega Man in 1971 with Charlton Heston, was a more character-intimate take on the whole virus/zombie-apocalypse genre, bonding Smith with a German Shepherd, and later, a kid and a beautiful fellow survivor played by Alice Braga.
There's just one thing that complicates a potential sequel, which is a bit spoilerish, so be warned as you read on...
The status of the follow-up is currently rendered a mystery, seeing as Will Smith's character DIES at the end of the first film in an act of self-sacrifice for his two new companions who may have gotten their hands on a potential cure for the rampant outbreak.
Rumors have been swirling for years that a prequel film would be in the cards. However, I Am Legend is now a nearly 5 year-old film, and by the time the new entry would realistically be in theaters, it would be pushing about 7 years.
Obvious issues with Smith aging aside, it does not have the immediate recognition of some of Smith's other mega-franchises, like Men in Black. Therefore, it's difficult to tell if audiences would even remember this grim story and want to reconnect with a prequel. (Unless, before that, we get "The Legend of Bagger Vance 2: Putt You Too.")
Either way, it looks like this follow-up to the best movie to ever be named after a Bob Marley greatest hits album is indeed on the horizon. -- That is, if Will Smith actually signs on to the project.
[Source]
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