Will Smith is back for the I Am Legend sequel (Picture: Getty Images)
Will Smith and Michael B Jordan will both star in the I Am Legend sequel, which has just been confirmed to be in the works.
The original film, based on Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel of the same name, was released in 2007 and saw Will, 54, and Michael, 36, co-star alongside Emma Thompson and the former’s daughter and singing sensation Willow Smith in the post-apocalyptic thriller.
Will, who is making a comeback after being handed a 10-year ban from the Academy Awards after hitting Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars ceremony, will be returning as virologist Dr Robert Neville.
In the first film, Dr Neville was one of the last remaining survivors after a virus infected 99% of the world’s population, and he (spoiler alert) dies in order to save fellow characters Anna (Alice Braga) and Ethan (Charlie Tahan).
But for the sequel producer Akiva Goldsman will be taking inspiration from popular TV series The Last Of Us by exploring an alternate ending a few decades later in which protagonist Dr Neville doesn’t die.
Speaking to Deadline, Akiva said: ‘We trace back to the original Matheson book and the alternate ending as opposed to the released ending in the original film.’
Will will be on set again to play the same character in an alternate ending to the original I Am Legend (Picture: Shutterstock)
Willow Smith was only seven in the 2007 film (Picture: Shutterstock)
Michael B Jordan will be starring alongside Will in the sequel (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
‘This [sequel] will start a few decades later than the first,’ he clarified.
‘I’m obsessed with The Last of Us, where we see the world just post-apocalypse but also after a 20-30-year lapse.
‘You see how the earth reclaims the world, and there’s something beautiful in the question of, as man steps away from being the primary tenant, what happens?
‘That will be especially visual in New York.
‘I don’t know if they’ll climb up to the Empire State building, but the possibilities are endless.’
The possibilities are indeed endless, as the original was a box office sensation, grossing $585.4million (£485m) to top off a budget of $150m (£124m).
This comes after the 2022 Oscars incident, where the Bad Boys star was awarded best actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, dad to tennis stars Venus and Serena, in King Richard.
The ceremony collapsed into controversy when Will took to the stage to physically confront host Chris after he made a joke about the former’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith, poking fun at her alopecia.
Will got into a lot of trouble at last year’s Oscars ceremony (Picture: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air actor later apologised to the comedian, and said he was ’embarrassed’ about the whole affair.
‘Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,’ Will began in an Instagram post.
‘My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.’
He continued: ‘I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.’
‘I would also like to apologise to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologise to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family.
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‘I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.’
He concluded: ‘I am a work in progress.’
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