I Am Legend 2 - Cast, Writer, Possible Director, Development Details And More Info

Few sequels might seem more unlikely than "I Am Legend 2." When a movie ends by killing off its protagonist and then a decade and a half goes by, even the most die-hard fans could be forgiven for giving up hope. Though it turned a tidy profit and found its fair share of enthusiasts, the bleak Will Smith vehicle opened to middling reviews during the holiday season of 2007, and as the third feature film adaptation of its source material — Richard Matheson's influentially eerie novel that also inspired 1964's "The Last Man on Earth" and 1971's "The Omega Man" — "I Am Legend" can hardly be held up as a foolproof piece of blockbuster IP.

But just like a viral plague vampire, a would-be franchise can always lurch back from the brink when you least expect it. In the 15-plus years since the release of "I Am Legend," there have been rumblings about potential sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, along with questions as to whether the film's alternate ending could provide a path forward. Now, there's been some actual progress on "I Am Legend 2," with enticing talent getting attached to the project in recent years. Here's everything you need to know.

Warner Bros. has been trying to develop another "I Am Legend" movie for quite a while. At one point, they were considering a prequel, and at another point, they were thinking about a movie without Will Smith that would draw inspiration from "The Searchers." While that certainly sounds intriguing, they eventually decided to move forward with a traditional sequel, announcing the Will Smith movie in March 2022.

Of course, Hollywood has seen two major strikes since then, which set "I Am Legend 2" back quite a bit. However, in December 2023, Smith was able to share some good news on the movie's progress. While attending the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, the star revealed that he'd just received the script by Akiva Goldsman. Better still, the screenwriter himself revealed at 2024's San Diego Comic-Con that he'd polished things up a bit with a second draft. Obviously, we're still a long way from the finish line, but now that there's at least a screenplay, chances are good we'll see Smith battling a bunch of vampiric creatures in the near-ish future.

"I Am Legend" chronicles Army scientist Robert Neville's struggle for survival as seemingly the last human in New York. A man-made virus turns much of the world's population into vampiric mutants known as "Darkseekers," and Neville's desperate search for a cure leads him to capture Darkseekers to serve as test subjects for experimental treatments. After fellow survivors Anna (Alice Braga) and Ethan (Charlie Tahan) find Neville, Darkseekers attack his lab, and he ultimately sacrifices himself to destroy them and send Anna and Ethan to a survivors' outpost with his apparently successful cure.

However, a more book-accurate alternate ending appeared on the film's home video release. In this version, Neville realizes the Darkseekers are simply trying to rescue his current test subject — to them, Neville is the monster standing in the way of their developing new society. His worldview rocked, Neville escapes with Anna and Ethan in search of the outpost, which may or may not even exist.

Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman confirmed to Deadline in early 2023 that "I Am Legend 2" would take the alternate ending as canon, citing "The Last of Us" as an influence on his conception of the sequel and explaining that it would pick up many years after the original film. "There's something beautiful in the question of, as man steps away from being the primary tenant, what happens?" the screenwriter said. "That will be especially visual in New York."

The first question anyone's likely to have about the cast of "I Am Legend 2" is whether or not we can expect the return of Will Smith. The answer, as revealed via Deadline in March 2022, is yes — Smith is set to reprise his role as Robert Neville, in addition to serving as producer. Since the film is following the unused alternate ending, Neville is still alive in a world full of Darkseekers, which is how the Oscar-winning Smith is getting his post-apocalyptic groove back.

The most exciting surprise about "I Am Legend 2," however, is the addition of Michael B. Jordan as both co-star and producer. Though details remain scarce, the "Black Panther" and "Creed" star will surely inject some fresh energy into the terrifying world of "I Am Legend," whether he's playing another human survivor crossing paths with Neville or an infected Darkseeker.

Akiva Goldsman co-wrote the original "I Am Legend," and he's returning for part two. A veteran scribe, Goldsman's career is ... unique. He won an Oscar for penning "A Beautiful Mind," and his filmography is filled with titles such as "Cinderella Man," "A Time to Kill," "The Da Vinci Code," and "The Dark Tower" — not to mention TV shows like "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and "The Crowded Room." He also previously wrote for Will Smith with "I, Robot" and "Winter's Tale." So yeah — an odd career. 

Goldsman told Deadline in early 2023 that "the possibilities are endless" when it comes to building on Richard Matheson's book. But what about who could possibly direct? Can we expect "I Am Legend" director Francis Lawrence to return as well? Lawrence and Goldsman are reuniting on one project already — the sequel to 2005's "Constantine" — so will they join forces again here?

Well, according to Deadline, Warner Bros. is hoping a new name will sit in the director's chair. Evidently, the studio wants to bring Steven Caple Jr. aboard. Caple Jr. has worked with Michael B. Jordan in the past, directing him in the majorly underrated boxing flick "Creed II." He also helmed the most recent "Transformers" movie, "Rise of the Beasts." In short, he's got action experience and a working relationship with one of the stars, so if the deal moves through, he sounds like a solid fit for this action-horror franchise.