In the original ending of the 2007 post-apocalyptic action thriller movie, I Am Legend, Will Smith’s character, Dr. Robert Neville, sacrificed his own life to save humanity. But in the alternate ending featured in the movie’s special-edition DVD released in 2008, Neville survived, leading viewers to ask the question, “Is there an I Am Legend 2?”
There had been talks of a sequel right after the film became a global box-office hit. While none of those early sequel talks actually came to fruition, a report by Deadline last Friday revealed that Warner Bros. Pictures is reviving the franchise with a follow-up movie to the original.
According to the news outlet, the studio is bringing Smith back for the sequel. It’s unclear, however, whether he’s going to reprise his role as Neville or he’s playing a brand-new character. Aside from starring in the sequel, Smith will also serve as producer of the movie.
Joining Smith in the sequel is Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan, who will both star in and produce the movie.
I Am Legend is loosely based on the 1954 novel of the same name by Richard Matheson. And since Matheson’s novel doesn’t have a second installment, the plot for the sequel is not yet known. But Akiva Goldsman, who adapted Matheson’s book in 2007, will be returning to pen the new script. Like Smith and Jordan, Goldsman is also producing.
While the deals with Smith, Jordan, and Goldsman are already closed, Deadline noted that no director is attached to the sequel yet, as the project still is being developed. There is no word yet whether I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence will be back to spearhead the sequel.
Smith is producing the sequel with Westbrook Studios Co-President/Head of Motion Pictures Jon Mone, with Ryan Shimazaki overseeing on behalf of the studio. Jordan, meanwhile, is producing the follow-up with Elizabeth Raposo via their Outlier Society banner. Lastly, Goldsman will produce alongside Greg Lessans via Weed Road Pictures.
Set in New York City after a virus has wiped out most of mankind, I Am Legend follows Neville, the last human in New York, other than the infected called Darkseekers. Neville is immune to the virus, and he works to develop a cure while defending himself against the hostile Darkseekers. I Am Legend is the third feature-film adaptation of Matheson’s novel following 1964’s The Last Man on Earth and 1971’s The Omega Man.
With a production budget of $150 million, I Am Legend went on to gross $256.4 million domestically and a total of $585.4 million worldwide.