"I Am Legend" Sequel Gets Update

Fans of "I Am Legend" rejoice! At San Diego Comic-Con, Akiva Goldsman, the screenwriter behind the original film, revealed that he is currently writing a sequel to the 2007 post-apocalyptic hit. 

Goldsman made the announcement during the Producers on Producing panel, hosted by Collider's Steve Weintraub, where he appeared alongside fellow producers Roy Lee and Lorenzo di Bonaventura. 

Goldsman promised that there would be "good news soon" and shared that he is actively developing the story for the much-anticipated follow-up.

The original movie starred Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville, a scientist who is seemingly the last human survivor in New York City after a virus intended to cure cancer mutates into a deadly strain. 

The virus wipes out most of humanity, turning the rest into aggressive, nocturnal creatures known as Darkseekers. 

He dedicates his life to finding a cure for the virus, using his own blood, which appears to be immune. 

Tfilpic is a thrilling blend of survival drama and horror, showcasing Neville's struggle to maintain his sanity and hope in an utterly desolate world. 

Goldsman confirmed that the sequel will follow the alternate cut of the original film where Neville survives. 

"We’re sequelizing the alternate cut. The one that we were talking about earlier, where Will lives and things didn't go so well for humanity," he said.

Goldsman added that Michael B. Jordan would be joining the film, saying, "Here’s what’s going on with I Am Legend 2: I wrote a draft. The idea is both Michael B. Jordan and Will Smith. I wrote a draft, and that draft put me and Will and Mike, and our producing partners in a room where we spent a week doing really fun stuff of talking story. I wrote another draft based on that week, and I imagine there will be some very good news shortly."

Goldsman also discussed the potential storyline, saying: "Yeah, and I will tell you something about Legend—it's counterintuitive, what happens to New York after 30 years, because you imagine a post-apocalyptic scenario, but if you actually do research about what happens to cities, it's pretty much the opposite. The world returns, and it returns in a way that is kind of spectacular. So, that's a really exciting playground for all of us because it's not your father’s I Am Legend."

He hinted at the progress of the sequel, adding, "What's interesting about both of these projects is both are gonna play, I would imagine, with the real use of time for these characters. So, what's happened with Constantine over the 20 years, and what's happened in the world of I Am Legend over those decades?".

The original movie has a massive popularity. Critically, the pic received generally positive reviews. 

Critics praised Smith's performance, as well as the film's visual effects and suspenseful atmosphere.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the pic holds a 68% approval rating based on reviews from critics, indicating generally favorable reviews.

The audience score is even higher, reflecting strong approval from general moviegoers.

"I Am Legend" was a major box office hit. It had a production budget of approximately $150 million and went on to gross over $585 million worldwide. The impressive box office performance made it one of the highest-grossing films of 2007, and a sequel is arguably long overdue.