Rumors have been abundant, but Variety confirmed today that Will Smith will reprise his role as the scientist Robert Neville in an “I Am Legend” prequel. The film will “chronicle the final days of humanity in New York before a man-made virus caused a plague that left Smith’s character the lone survivor among a mutated mob in the city.”
Is it just me, or did we already see this stuff in the first film? I recall some intense flashbacks of a terrified NYC, a cute family, and one massive helicopter crash. We all know how this ends, and the film covered how it started, so why go back and rehash all the details? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the first film, but I just see no reason for a prequel.
Furthermore, the first film was based on a book of the same name, and sadly came nowhere near doing it justice. It left a bad taste in my mouth as being an adaptation in name alone. Will they try to incorporate more elements from the book that should have been in the original film, such as establishing the neighbor Bill Corman who eventually becomes the lead vampire? My guess is no. Just another missed opportunity in an attempt to make more money that further hurt the chances of this incredible story ever being told properly.
