There was a time when having the name “Will Smith” attached to your film meant a certified Hollywood hit. But since the infamous Oscars slap, those days are less certain. These days, the actor has remained relatively quiet, choosing projects carefully as he navigates the continued fallout. Will Smith’s biggest hit since then was Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which opened to $56 million in 2024. Still, Warner Bros. believes they can recreate the magic of I Am Legend, one of Will’s biggest films, with a sequel. And now they’ve brought on Creed II director Steven Caple Jr. to help.
What the I Am Legend Alternate Ending Means for the Sequel
Nearly two decades after the success of the first film, Warner Bros.’ sequel will retcon the ending of I Am Legend, relying on the alternative ending from the DVD release to continue the story. Robert Neville survived the attack of the mutants (or rather, the infected, which are mutants resembling vampires) and left New York with Anna and Ethan.
“We’re sequelizing the alternative cut,” writer Akiva Goldsman said at Comic-Con. “Where Will lives and things don’t go well for humanity.”
Michael B. Jordan and Steven Caple Jr. Join I Am Legend 2
The story will pick up after those events and include Michael B. Jordan as a key character, who, Smith has said, leads a new settlement in Connecticut. And it looks like Jordan, who is also producing, is reuniting with Steven Caple Jr., best known for Creed II and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, as director (via Collider).
How Much Did I Am Legend Make at the Box Office?
Although the original I Am Legend [Rotten Tomatoes: 68%] received some backlash from fans for not sticking closely to Richard Matheson’s book, it did make $585 million worldwide back in 2007. It’s the kind of money that makes studios want to return to a property again and again. Except this time, it won’t just be Smith in an apocalypse story with one man and his dog. It could be a much bigger and more ambitious project that could go in an unexpected direction.
I Am Legend 2 Release Date and Filming Status
Filming hasn’t started as of October 2026, of course. That means there’s no release date yet either. Goldsman has since admitted the project faces obstacles, though he says he is determined to get it made. But now the film’s been handed over to Steven Caple Jr. to steer. And depending on how you felt about his projects, that’s either a good or bad thing.
Related: I, Robot 2: The Sequel That Can Save Will Smith’s Career
Where to Watch I Am Legend
I Am Legend is available to rent or buy on Fandango at Home, Amazon, YouTube and Google Play.
