Sequel to Will Smith’s 19-Year-Old Sci-Fi Movie Breaks a Streak That Goes Back to 2003

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Will Smith is known for starring in big movie franchises, but the upcoming sequel to I Am Legend is a first for him in over two decades. Early in his career, Smith gained attention through his music and the popular ‘90s TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He quickly proved his acting talent with a role in the well-regarded 1993 film Six Degrees of Separation, which launched him into A-list Hollywood stardom.

Will Smith became a major movie star in the 1990s with successful franchises like Bad Boys and Men in Black. He continued to star in popular films such as Ali, I, Robot, Hitch, and I Am Legend. A sequel to I Am Legend is coming soon, and it’s notable because it’s the first time since 2003 – when Bad Boys II was released – that Smith has starred in a movie that launches a new sequel in an existing franchise.

I Am Legend 2 Is Will Smith’s First New Franchise Since 2003’s Bad Boys II

Will Smith has been appearing in sequels since 2003. While Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) and Men in Black 3 (2012) aren’t his only sequel appearances, I Am Legend 2 marks his first time returning to a second movie in a series since the Bad Boys sequel with Michael Bay in 2003. He previously expanded the Men in Black franchise with the less successful Men in Black II in 2002. Since Bad Boys II, Smith has occasionally rejoined established movie series, but hasn’t repeated a role in anything except those sequels.

As a big movie fan, I’ve noticed Will Smith rarely does sequels. He skipped out on Independence Day: Resurgence in 2016, they recast him for The Suicide Squad in 2021, and even the Men in Black: International reboot from 2019 didn’t include him as Agent J. That’s why I Am Legend 2 is so interesting – it actually got him to come back! Most of his big roles lately have been in completely new movies, with the exception of a couple more Bad Boys films.

I Am Legend 2’s Will Smith Comeback Is Already Complicated

The upcoming return of Will Smith in I Am Legend 2 is noteworthy because it’s not just a simple attempt to capitalize on the original film’s success. The first I Am Legend ended with Smith’s character, Dr. Robert Neville, sacrificing himself to destroy a group of creatures called Darkseekers. However, the sequel will change this ending, using an alternate ending that was originally filmed but not used.

The new ending for the film is more faithful to the original book, revealing that the creatures Neville has been fighting are actually intelligent and aware. They see him as the monster, simply for hunting them. Although the previous alternate ending was more creative and insightful, it will be unusual for Will Smith to return to the I Am Legend series and change the ending that most fans remember before starting the story of the sequel.

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2026-05-02 18:40