By: Renae Richardson
Avid readers may remember the choose-your-own-ending books where readers could alter the outcome of a story by selecting an alternate conclusion. This type of selective interaction is rarely applied to film, but Will Smith is experimenting with a similar concept. I Am Legend 2 will be predicated on an alternate ending from its predecessor, requiring viewers to forget the original conclusion in order to embrace an entirely new narrative journey. What exactly does that mean? To understand the significance of this creative decision, one must first revisit the source material.
Origins of Monsters
I Am Legend. Image Source: Warner Bros.
I Am Legend is a post-apocalyptic film adaptation of a novel by Richard Matheson. Published in 1954, Matheson’s groundbreaking work was initially classified as vampire fiction. However, as Nerdist notes,
“Matheson’s story was in fact the true beginning of the modern zombie; ravenous and infected flesh-eaters.”
This distinction matters because Matheson’s vision predated the cultural phenomenon that would later popularize the undead—a shift largely attributed to George A. Romero and his 1968 horror classic Night of the Living Dead. Romero was never silent about what inspired his socially reflective masterpiece, openly identifying Matheson as the muse. As Blexmedia observes, “The blueprint [Night of the Living Dead]—the swaths of infected, a crumbling civilization, and the existential dread that comes with such an earth-shattering event—is straight from Matheson.”
A Legacy of Adaptations
Given its influence, it is no surprise that Matheson’s novel has been adapted multiple times. The 2007 I Am Legend was not the first attempt to bring the story to the screen. Prior iterations included 1964’s The Last Man on Earth and 1971’s The Omega Man.
However, contemporary audiences are most familiar with the version starring Will Smith as Robert Neville—a solitary scientist left to navigate a world ravaged by a viral outbreak. In this iteration, Neville stands as a sole survivors, dedicating himself to discovering a cure. Ultimately, he sacrifices his life in that pursuit.
Yet this ending diverged significantly from Matheson’s version. As critics have noted,
“While it retains the basic premise—Neville as the last man on Earth in the midst of a zombie apocalypse—it alters the tone and basically everything else.” The monsters are CGI mutants who are more rabid animals than former humans, which also eliminates a lot of the existential tragedy of the original story.”
In Matheson’s novel, the infected are not mindless creatures. They possess intelligence and agency—and Neville, rather than being a hero, is revealed to be a monster in their eyes. This thematic inversion was largely absent from the 2007 theatrical release.
The Alternate Ending Becomes Canon
This brings us to the sequel—and the question that puzzled many upon its announcement. How could filmmakers continue a story that had been definitively concluded with the protagonist’s death?
The answer lies in an alternate ending that was filmed but never released theatrically. Available only on the DVD release, this version aligns more closely with Matheson’s original intent. In it, Neville survives.
I Am Legend 2 will treat this alternate ending as canon, effectively erasing the theatrical conclusion from continuity. This decision opens narrative possibilities that the original ending foreclosed while simultaneously honoring the philosophical complexity of Matheson’s source material.
Why Revisit the Story Now?
The question remains: why pursue a sequel after all this time? A continuation was not originally on the table. Following the release and commercial success of the 2007 film, discussions centered on a potential prequel. That effort never materialized.
Years later, the alternate ending emerged as a more feasible avenue for reviving the franchise. One might presume this represents Smith’s way of honoring the desire to see more after the original feature. Perhaps it was simply a project he always wanted to revisit.
In 2022, press coverage surrounding the sequel ran hot once more. However, as often happens when projects are never pushed forward with immediacy, the news eventually fizzled.
A Director Steps Forward
Recent developments confirm a more solidified direction for the project with the confirmation of the attachment of a director. According to Blexmedia, per Collider.
“Filmmaker Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) is officially developing I Am Legend 2 for the studio. The update comes after Caple Jr. confirmed his involvement during press junkets for Netflix’s Man on Fire remake, where he revealed he is actively working on the project alongside other studio commitments.”
With Caple Jr. at the helm, the project gains both momentum and credibility. His experience with franchise filmmaking—particularly his work on Creed II—suggests he understands how to balance legacy with evolution.
Much remains unknown about the sequel’s plot, timeline, and supporting cast. However, for fans who have long advocated for the alternate ending’s vision, this announcement offers renewed hope.
The legend, it seems, is far from over.
Original article
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