Summary

• "I Am Legend 2" is finally in development after over 15 years, with Will Smith returning and Michael B. Jordan joining the cast.
• The sequel will ignore the original ending, taking place decades later and exploring a post-apocalyptic world inspired by "The Last of Us."
• While still in pre-production, the script is being penned by Akiva Goldsman, but it's unclear if director Francis Lawrence will return.

After over 15 years, Warner Bros. is finally moving forward with I Am Legend 2, a sequel to the 2007 sci-fi horror hit, but updates are still sparse. Will Smith starred in the original I Am Legend, a critical and commercial success directed by Francis Lawrence. The movie adaptation is based on the classic novel of the same name by the late Richard Matheson, and it's widely considered a highlight of the big-budget CGI blockbusters that 2000s cinema is now synonymous with. The sci-fi flick also remains one of the strongest entries in Will Smith's filmography.

Since the success of I Am Legend, there has long been talk of an I Am Legend 2. However, Will Smith was a big factor in this success, but his character Robert Neville died in the controversial climax. While a prequel had been suggested, an I Am Legend sequel was eventually greenlit, with Michael B. Jordan signing on and Will Smith shockingly returning, even though Smith rarely returns for sequels. Though it'll be a while until an I Am Legend 2 actually arrives, there are still plenty of exciting updates.

The Latest I Am Legend 2 News

Michael B. Jordan Provides A Script Update

Mirroring many such recent updates concerning the long-gestation sequel, the latest news sees Michael B. Jordan offer an I Am Legend 2 script update. Though he couldn't say much, the Creed star did express his excitement to work with co-star Will Smith. Jordan also mentioned that the script is still being hammered out, and that no production timeline or release date has been agreed upon. It will likely be a while before the sequel truly begins to take shape, however, the frequency of updates suggests it is a high priority.

Read Jordan's full comments below:

We're still working on the script and getting that up to par. It doesn't have a release date or anything like that. I'm not sure exactly where we're going to be filming that one, but I'm really excited to get in front of the camera with him. Being somebody that I've looked up to for a really long time, to be able to work with Will is something I'm really looking forward to. I'm really excited.

I Am Legend 2 Is Confirmed

I Am Legend 2 Is On The Way

On March 4, 2022, reports confirmed that Warner Bros. was actively developing I Am Legend 2. In an encouraging sign, screenwriter Akiva Goldsman is returning to pen the script. An I Am Legend sequel, originally planned as a prequel starring Smith, was teased for several years following the success of the original movie, but it ultimately didn't pan out. However, though I Am Legend 2 updates are becoming more common, it still isn't clear if director Francis Lawrence will also be back.

I Am Legend 2 Production Status

The Sequel Is Still In Pre-Production

I Am Legend 2 has not escaped development hell yet, and there is no indication when it will.

Despite a wealth of exciting updates, I Am Legend 2 is still very much locked in the pre-production phase. The movie has been gestating for a decade and a half, and it has yet to completely solidify into an official piece of the Warner Bros. slate. Often referred to as "production hell", the sequel hasn't been able to get off the ground for a variety of reasons.

I Am Legend is available for purchase or rent on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, and Google Play.

However, in May 2024, Smith reassured fans that work was still being done on the beleaguered sequel and expressed his enthusiasm for the project. Despite Smith's excitement, I Am Legend 2 has not escaped development hell yet, and there is no indication when it will.

I Am Legend 2 Cast

Will Smith & Michael B. Jordan Will Lead The Cast

Will Smith will be returning as Robert Neville in I Am Legend 2, and it has also been confirmed that Creed star Michael B. Jordan will join the cast. While there is no information about the character he's playing yet, Jordan's star-power will certainly help lift the long-awaited sequel. Given Alice Braga's comments about wanting to be a part of the cast, it's entirely possible she also could be returning in her role as Anna. No other names have been added, and casting probably won't start in earnest for quite some time.

I Am Legend 2 Story Details

How Will Neville Return In The Sequel?

Goldsman gave some pivotal I Am Legend 2 updates regarding the movie's story details, and he confirmed it will take place decades after the events of the first movie. He also confirmed the new movie would do away with the original ending in which Neville sacrifices himself to kill the mutants and allows Anna and Ethan to escape. Instead, the sequel will follow the alternate ending that was closer to the I Am Legend book.

In the ending that I Am Legend 2 will follow, Neville realizes the infected aren't there to kill him, but rather to save one of their own — the infected that Neville captured as a test subject. He then understands that they see him as a monster, just as he sees them. Goldsman also pointed to The Last of Us as a strong inspiration for the sequel. He admitted that he was interested in examining a post-apocalyptic world after nature had taken over once again. He also hinted that the story would take place in New York City just as I Am Legend did.

The fact that Goldsman intends to make the sequel much closer to the source material is the best I Am Legend 2 update possible, as the movie can delve into the idea of zombie societies and how they separated themselves into different social groups. This also gives credence to the theory that Michael B. Jordan will play a Darkseeker in I Am Legend 2.

• I Am Legend

  Summary:

  Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure in this post-apocalyptic action thriller.

  Release Date:

  2007-12-14

  Budget:

  $150 million

  Cast:

  willow smith, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan

  Director:

  Francis Lawrence

  Genres:

  Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

  Rating:

  PG-13

  Runtime:

  101 minutes

  Writers:

  Akiva Goldsman, Mark Protosevich

  Studio(s):

  Warner Bros. Pictures

  Distributor(s):

  Warner Bros. Pictures