Summary

• Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman reveals that he's now written two drafts of the I Am Legend 2 script with from Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan, and an announcement could be on the way.
• Goldsman teases an evolved version of New York City in the sequel.
• An empty New York City was a big part of the appeal of the first I Am Legend, and the film's setting was one of its key strengths.

I Am Legend 2 is now moving forward with Smith reprising his role, with Michael B. Jordan also set to star.

In a recent interview with Collider at SDCC, Goldsman shares that work is ongoing on I Am Legend 2, teasing that some official announcements could be on the way. As for the world of the sequel, the writer reveals that it's going to evolve in some exciting ways. Check out Goldsman's comment below:

"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."

"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."

I Am Legend's Setting Was A Big Part Of Its Success

New York City Won't Be The Same In The Sequel

I Am Legend's reviews were generally positive, but more lukewarm overall, with not all aspects of the film totally working. The ending, for example, was divisive due to how it essentially misses the point of the book, and the sequel will instead be taking the I Am Legend alternate ending as canon. That being said, one aspect of the post-apocalypse that the movie really gets right is its New York City setting.

It's unclear whether I Am Legend cast member Alica Braga will be reprising her role as Anna in the sequel, but the actor has expressed interest in returning.

The movie memorably opens with Neville driving a red Mustang and chasing after a group of deer as they dart through overgrown, abandoned city streets. Another scene features Neville hitting golf balls from on top of a large naval ship. While I Am Legend's Darkseekers make life terrifying for Neville, there's something undeniably interesting and alluring about New York City serving as his personal playground. These early sequences present a version of the post-apocalypse that hadn't really been seen in a movie before in quite that same way.

Goldsman's update would seem to suggest that I Am Legend 2 won't feature this same setting, with New York City having bounced back somewhat in the interim years between the two films. This could potentially eliminate an aspect of the original film that worked well, though it does open the door for some exciting storytelling possibilities. It remains to be seen how I Am Legend 2 will compare to the original film, but audiences should evidently expect some interesting changes when it comes to the movie's setting.

Source: Collider

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