Lawrence to Lead LEGEND

This would be the third take on the novel, the first being Last Man on Earth with V. Price and the second being Omega Man with C. Heston. If done well it could be great if done badly it'll be just another great story totally screwed up by Hollywood.

I remember hearing Will Smith's name attached to an "I Am Legend" project a while back. I really, REALLY hope this rumour is unsubstantiated.

The subject matter is dark and gritty - and I just can't see someone like uber-smug Smith in the lead, or any role for that matter.

That being said, I'm sure Hollywood will manage to sabotage the original story into some high-cheese action concept.

Then again, I did love Omega Man... ^^;;

I remember reading somewhere that first governor Arnold was going to star in this a few years ago and then last year Will Smith's name was attached to the project. The Omega Man is a favorite movie from my childhood, and I would enjoy seeing this remade and updated. I read the book about ten years ago when I learned that Omega Man was bsaed on the book. I highly recommend the book, and also the graphic novel that came out a year or so ago. Great story by an amzing writer.

Will Smith would ruin the movie, another lousy choice would be G. Clooney. I agree Matheson is indeed a great writer but, whose works have not been treated well on screen.

wessmith, I've been trying to understand this line of reasoning for some time as I have heard it from many others. If Omega Man is one of your favorite childhood movies why would you enjoy it being remade?

For so many, the remade version would be the only one they would ever see. If Omega Man is that good (and I agree with you on that) wouldn't you rather share the original with others rather then having it replaced in "societal memory" with a glossy watered down version?

I also enjoyed Omega Man. While there are some classic Sci-Fi movies I'd love to see remade... the fear is always the same. That it will be made into a special effects extravaganze at the expense of what made the originals so great... stories with characters you actually give a damn about.

That's what sorely lacking in today's movie "Science Fiction" adaptations, characters you care about and act real.

This has been languishing in development hell for decades. Will, Arnold, even Tom (Cruise) have been attached at one time or another, along with scores of others. I was assuming the delay was at least due to some sort of desire to do it right, but with this hire I'm now in doubt about that. What has this guy done? (Yeah, I'll check IMDB too). I would love to see this done as faithfully as possible to the source material, something I had given up on during the Will Smith phase. We'll see.

Oh, I see....a video director who made one bad Keanu Reeves movie. Guess that tells the story.

gtmac...For the most part, I don't enjoy remakes as much as I enjoy the originals, but I am such a movie junkie that I usually find something redeeming in every movie. I like seeing a new director's take on a movie. Example: Manhunter vs. Red Dragon. Like them, don't like them, I'm not debating that issue here, but I enjoyed both movies and the differences that made each film its own. Nothing will ever make me forget how much I enjoyed Omega Man (and still do...I pull out the DVD once a year at least), but I also look forward to seeing it updated. The original movie was filled with a lot of "between the lines" political rhetoric, and I'd like to see if that is carried through and adapted for today's society.

Oh, and gtmac, I have shared the Omega Man with my little brother. He liked it, although he thought some of the makeup was a little cheesy. When I told him that a remake might be made with Will Smith he was excited and wanted to read the graphic novel (which led me into getting him to read the book). That's another reason I like seeing movies remade for the new generations...It might inspire some of the kids, who might not normally be inclined to do so, to pick up the book and read it cover to cover.