18 Years Ago Today, This Blockbuster Adapted a Sci-Fi Masterpiece for the 3rd Time (& It’s Getting a Sequel)

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Released in 2007, this memorable science fiction horror film stars Will Smith and is based on a beloved novel. Director Francis Lawrence took on the project, a long-awaited remake, after gaining recognition with his first film, Constantine. Though some fans disliked the altered ending, the movie was generally well-received and sparked hope for future installments. Lawrence would later direct popular franchises like The Hunger Games and Red Sparrow.

Will Smith first played the role of Robert Neville in the 2007 film I Am Legend, and he’s now returning for a sequel that fans are eagerly awaiting. Neville is a military virologist who is the sole survivor in New York City after a deadly virus wipes out most of humanity, turning the remaining population into vampire-like creatures called “Darkseekers.” He spends his time searching for a cure and scavenging for supplies with his dog, Sam. However, I Am Legend wasn’t the first adaptation of this story.

I Am Legend Adapted Richard Matheson’s 1954 Sci-Fi Novel for the Third Time

Richard Matheson, a celebrated author of science fiction and horror – known for books like Hell House, The Shrinking Man, and Duel – published I Am Legend in 1954. This novel was highly influential in shaping the modern zombie and vampire genres, providing a basis for many popular TV shows and films about zombies and viruses. I Am Legend delved into difficult themes like loneliness, sadness, addiction, and hopelessness, making it a compelling story for film adaptations, though no movie version has ever truly stayed true to the original book.

The first movie based on the story was The Last Man on Earth, released on May 6, 1964, and starring Vincent Price as Dr. Robert Morgan. While it came close to accurately portraying the ending of the source material—where the protagonist meets a living vampire who reveals a new society and his impending execution—it wasn’t quite right. In 1971, The Omega Man took a very different approach, turning the story into an action film and removing the vampire elements. Charlton Heston played Robert Neville in this version.

Francis Lawrence’s 2007 film, I Am Legend, was the third attempt to bring Richard Matheson’s novel to the big screen, and it proved to be the most popular. The film’s creatures, called Darkseekers, combined elements of both vampires and zombies, creating fast and frightening enemies that emerged after a widespread outbreak. They were a return to the original creatures described in Matheson’s book, and they even developed their own communities and rules, ultimately seeing the protagonist, Neville, as the bad guy. While some criticized the movie for its occasionally clumsy special effects and significant changes to the ending, audiences were still interested in seeing more of this post-apocalyptic world.

I Am Legend’s Sequel Is Finally in Development

Following the success of I Am Legend in 2008, director Francis Lawrence announced plans for a prequel starring Will Smith. This prequel would have shown what happened to Smith’s character, Neville, before the outbreak in New York, and featured him leading a team on a mission to Washington D.C. to fight the infected, highlighting his military background. However, the project stalled by 2011. Years later, in 2014, Warner Bros. obtained a script called A Garden at the End of the World and, recognizing its connection to I Am Legend, decided to revisit the idea of a sequel.

A follow-up to the film I Am Legend was officially announced on March 4, 2022. Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the original movie, is returning to write the script, and Will Smith is expected to reprise his role, even though he typically avoids sequels. Michael B. Jordan will also star alongside Smith. This new movie will continue the story based on the original author’s intended ending – where Neville successfully delivers immune survivors Anna and Ethan to a safe camp – rather than the one shown in theaters. While Steven Caple Jr. (known for Creed II and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) is rumored to be directing, details about the plot and release date for this highly anticipated sequel haven’t been revealed yet.

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2025-12-15 02:42