Smith is Living LEGEND

By: News Editor
Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Source: Variety

Warner Bros. has signed Will Smith to a pay-or-play deal to star in I AM LEGEND.

Adapted from Richard Matheson's novel, the story set in post-apocalyptic New York, centers on the last healthy man following the release of a virus that decimates the population. To survive, he must battle mutants that wreak havoc during the night.

Akiva Goldsman rewrote a script by Mark Protosevich. Francis Lawrence will direct. Akiva Goldsman, Erwin Stoff, David Heyman and Neal Moritz will produce.

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Comments/Responses

shaolinronin • Apr 26, 2006, 06:44am •

Nonononooooo!!!

Let's see: 1st there was Vincent Price (Last Man On Earth), then Chuck Heston (The Omega Man) - so now we get Will Smith in the same role?

Hmmm, I predict I Am Legend will turn into the next I, Robot. This... makes me sad... IaL is one of my all-time favorite books:-(

• Apr 26, 2006, 07:09am •

Is there a movie Akiva Goldsman is NOT involved in these days? The guy is everywhere it seems. I loved the book and The Omega Man is one of my childhood favorites, although it's very dated now when I watch it. I like most Will Smith movies that don't involve Barry Sonnenfeld (I hated Wild, Wild West), so I look forward to this film.

• Apr 26, 2006, 07:24am •

see now i have to agree. this does sounded like Omega Man. i always like the plot of the movie. but theres another movie kinda reminds me of this too remember Night of the Comet? i will read on about this.

teabagging2000 • Apr 26, 2006, 08:56am •

I just finished this book a while back which was fantastic and genuinely scary! Why can't they be vampires like in the book? I also can't picture Wil in this role cracking jokes as he he dispatches mutants. If I Robot is any indication of how they "adapt" the story, we're in deep poodoo. I will say that I have seen several good screenplays of this on the web that were very true to the story, use one those please!

• Apr 26, 2006, 09:02am •

Smith has been attached to this project going on about 10 years now, so we'll see what actually happens. With adaptations, however, it's necessary to get the essence of the source while keeping as much intact as possible. Will it be the book? No. Can it still be good? Yes.

• Apr 26, 2006, 09:31am •

skspence... 10 years is quite a bit of an exaggeration. Arnold Schwarzenegger was actually attached to this at first; he was attached to the project for a few years.

I like Will Smith and I would like him even better if he just get rid of sarcastic comments and goofy faces... he's much better then that and should take a chance by playing it serious... no more 'Fresh Prince' shtick.

• Apr 26, 2006, 09:47am •

Plot of movie;

Smith opens door.

Mutants appear standing in droves outside a la Dawn of the Dead.

Smith says: "Aw hell no."

Smith caves some heads in uttering " Aw no you didn't..."

Smith wins looking into horizon with dawn approaching.

The end.

• Apr 26, 2006, 10:05am •

SHARPE95TH......

Not only was I laughing for like five minutes reading that comment, but I called everyone in my house over to read it. Not only hillarious, but TRUE. I bow to you.

muchdrama • Apr 26, 2006, 10:49am •

I dunno, Francis Lawrence did a hell of a job on Constantine. But New York? I read the book and wasn't it originally set on the West Coast?

• Apr 26, 2006, 11:15am •

The most disgusting part is that it's going to be worse than I, Robot. It's a role that needs to be handled with more subtlety and desperation than the 'fresh prince' can handle. Or maybe he can prove me wrong. The thing is, he'd have to be someone other than Will Smith. He's have to actually ACT.

But, judging from I, Robot, this is going to be another holocaust-like disaster for legitimate films.

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