The sequel to I Am Legend has been confirmed with Will Smith set to star in the film alongside Michael B. Jordan.
Producer Akiva Goldsman, 60, revealed that work has begun on the second film to the 2007 sci-fi/horror blockbuster.
The follow-up dystopian picture would see The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air star Will, 54, return to his role as Robert Neville, working to cure a zombie apocalypse in New York.
Speaking to Deadline, Hollywood producer Goldsman explained that the highly-anticipated second film will ‘trace back to the original Matheson book’ and return to the New York post-apocalyptic scene a ‘few decades later than the first’.
Actor smith has been under the radar over the past year since his Oscars controversy, which saw him head up on stage to slap Chris Rock after he made a joke about Will’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith.
Return: The sequel to I Am Legend has been confirmed with Will Smith set to star in the film alongside Michael B. Jordan
Co-star: It is not clear on what role Michael B. Jordan (pictured) will play in the second film, as Goldsman, who has a production company called Weed Road Pictures at Warner Bros, was keeping that part of the storyline under wraps
Return: The follow-up dystopian picture would see The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air star Will, 54, return to his role as Robert Neville, working to cure a zombie apocalypse in New York
I Am Legend 2 will be Will’s first Hollywood comeback since the highly-publicised incident.
Akiva told the publication: ‘We’re starting with two projects that are fun and very much Warners; the sequel to I Am Legend, with Will and Michael B. Jordan, and the sequel to Constantine with Keanu Reeves that Francis Lawrence is going to direct.’
It is not clear on what role Michael B. Jordan will play in the second film, as Goldsman, who has a production company called Weed Road Pictures at Warner Bros, was keeping that part of the storyline under wraps.
He explained of the link between I Am Legend 2 and The Last Of Us, which he said he is ‘obsessed with’.
‘I’m obsessed with The Last Of Us, where we see the world just post-apocalypse but 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. We trace back to the original Matheson book, and the alternate ending as opposed to the released ending in the original film.’
Will Smith stars in 2007’s sci-fi thriller I Am Legend
Reveal: Producer Akiva Goldsman, 60, revealed that work has begun on the second film to the 2007 sci-fi/horror blockbuster
New movie: Akiva told Deadline: ‘We’re starting with two projects that are fun and very much Warners; the sequel to I Am Legend, with Will and Michael B. Jordan, and the sequel to Constantine with Keanu Reeves that Francis Lawrence is going to direct’
Shocking: Actor smith has been under the radar over the past year since his Oscars controversy, which saw him head up on stage to slap Chris Rock after he made a joke about Will’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith (pictured)
He also added that the author Matheson was trying to portray that the ‘man’s time on the planet’ as the ‘dominant species’ had now ended.
Goldsman said that this ‘really interesting element’ was something the sequel is planned to explore, adding that there will be a ‘little more fidelity to the original text’.
The Francis Lawrence-directed movie centred on the story of the scientist and last human survivor of a plague.
In the film, Will’s character seeks to reverse the effects of the virus by using his own immune blood.
Having been handed a ban on attending The Academy Awards for ten years, the actor, 53, has reportedly been taking matters into his own hands in the months that followed with a self-produced sequel to his 2007 film via his company Westbrook Media.
Fresh take: Goldsman also added that the author Matheson was trying to portray that the ‘man’s time on the planet’ as the ‘dominant species’ had now ended
Stars: The producer also said that this ‘really interesting element’ was something the sequel is planned to explore, adding that there will be a ‘little more fidelity to the original text (Will is pictured holding his daughter Willow Smith as Marley and Salli Richardson as Zoe in first film)
Story: The Francis Lawrence-directed movie centred on the story of the scientist and last human survivor of a plague. In the film, Will’s character seeks to reverse the effects of the virus by using his own immune blood
In June last year, sources claimed Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, who adapted Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel into the first film, was planning on including Richard’s character in the script.
An insider told The Sun in June last year: ‘The script is being written mentioning his character and as yet Will remains attached to the project.
‘The concept is still to be signed off by Warner Brothers, but there has been no indication that Will is off the project.
‘Obviously he is the producer of the film and his production company is in charge while the development continues. And Will himself is undergoing therapy and taking time away from the limelight.’
