WithI Am Legend 2discarding the theatrical ending ofI Am Legendin favor of an alternate ending, it could help improve some of Will Smith’s other sci-fi adaptations at the same time. Smith is a huge action star, but his track record in sci-fi movies has been spotty, as the movies often drastically change the source material they are based on. WithI Am Legend, the original novel was based on a book by Richard Matheson that told a very different story to the movie.
Instead of a nuanced story about vampires, and analyzing how sometimes the monster in a story is more about the perspective than the outward appearance, the movie was a straightforward dystopian sci-fi with monsters. But Smith also starred inI, Robot, which was an even bigger departure from the source material by Isaac Asimov. Despite these movies and their clear changes, thefact thatI Am Legend 2has changed the earlier films' endingis a great start to mending these missteps.
I Am Legend 2 Can Be The Book-Accurate Sci-Fi Movie That I, Robot Wasn’t
Will Smith’s Sci-Fi Adaptation Redemption Is On The Way
The novel,I Am Legend, did not have a sequel, which means thatI Am Legend 2will more than likely be an original story that builds on the world introduced in the first movie. However, bymoving away from the original ending where Neville dieskilling the monsters and saves the other two survivors, the sequel will have an opportunity to revisit the themes from the novel, where the line between monsters and humans is more blurred.
I Am Legend 2 Can Introduce A Big Darkseeker Twist From The Book That Will Smith’s OG Movie Ignored
Will Smith’s upcoming sequel to 2007’s I Am Legend can turn to the source material to honor the original book while also advancing the story.
Why I, Robot Was So Different From Isaac Asimov’s Work
I, Robot Was A Totally Different Book Of Short Stories
However,I, Robotwas even more significantly different from their source material, with the movie taking the character of Dr. Calvin, and the three laws of robotics, and then running wild. The original 1950 novel,I, Robotby Isaac Asimovwas a collection of short stories which revolved around Dr. Susan Calvin, and a reporter who records these stories. Thesestories paint the history of robotics, and highlight some incredible studies of morality through the device of this conversation.
The novel,I Am Legend, did not have a sequel, which means thatI Am Legend 2will more than likely be an original story that builds on the world introduced in the first movie.
The movie was adapted as a story about a frustrated cop who does not trust robots. While there is a Dr. Calvin, the character, is dead at the start of the story, and the cop tries to uncover what led up to his death with the aid of a robot named Sonny. Over the course of their strained partnership,Smith’s character learns that Sonny is more advanced than other robots, with the ability to dream, but it ultimately turns into a big action set piece with AI robots, explosions, and that was about it.
The Movies Were More Action Than Sci-Fi
The theatrical ending ofI Am Legendultimately gave way to action and explosions over a deeper moral narrative. Instead of digging into the way that Neville had treated these creatures, who were recently human, it highlighted the error of his judgment in taking these creatures and treating them as less than. His decision to blow himself and the monsters up at the end makes him a hero, but it alsoeliminates the rationality and reasoning of the creatureswho simply want to live a life in their community.
I Am Legend 2 Wishlist: 8 Things We Want From The Sequel
I Am Legend 2 has plenty of fascinating directions to take its story, with possible inclusions of details left out from the book and lingering plots.
I, Robotdid the same thing, as it shifted away from an interesting basis which explored thought-provoking questions of morality, in favor of a big action-packed ending. The robots are monsters, the humans are heroes, and despite Sonny being a more complex robot, he sacrifices himself, essentially reducing the story down to the humans winning, the robots dying, and everyone living happily ever after. Despite using the laws of robotics, the ending eliminates the need to question more deeply, or analyze how the robots and humans could co-exist if they iron out the kinks. HopefullyI Am Legend 2avoids this same mistake.
I Am Legend 2
Cast
I Am Legend 2 is a sequel to the 2007 film that sees Will Smith reprise his role as Dr. Robert Neville. Despite the theatrical release of the original film showing Neville’s demise, the film picks up where the alternate ending left off, with Neville surviving and heading off to spread the cure.
