I Am Legend 2 Lives: Director Locked In for the Post-Apocalyptic Sequel

After years in limbo, the long-awaited follow-up is finally charging ahead, with Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan leading the way.

Well, it only took 17 years, but Hollywood is finally getting serious about making I Am Legend 2—and, yes, Will Smith is still somehow alive and ready to go mutant-fighting again. If you saw the original back in 2007, you might remember both the blockbuster action and the part where (spoiler alert for a movie that's old enough to have a driver’s license) Smith’s character, Dr. Robert Neville, did not exactly walk away in one piece. But, in a move that's either bold or just completely necessary for a sequel, the new movie is making the alternate DVD ending official, which means Neville survived after all.

What Happened in the First Movie?

Let’s rewind. The original I Am Legend had Smith wandering around a deserted New York City, wondering if he was the last human left after a virus turned almost everyone else into light-fearing mutants. The visuals were cool (empty streets, toppled skyscrapers), and Smith’s one-man show earned plenty of praise. The script was from Akiva Goldsman and Mark Protosevich and based (loosely, by the end) on Richard Matheson’s classic novel. Fans and critics both turned out, the movie made a ton of money, and pretty quickly people started asking about a sequel.

Why the Long Wait?

Sequels have been tossed around since 2008, but nothing actually came together… maybe because the main guy was very dead? Now, thanks to the alternate ending (which more closely matches the book’s tone), that little problem's been solved.

Who’s Calling the Shots?

• Director: Steven Caple Jr. (you know him from Creed II) is officially in charge
• Stars: Will Smith is back as Dr. Neville. This time, he’ll share the screen with Michael B. Jordan (yes, that Michael B. Jordan—also an Oscar-winner, so there’s some serious acting muscle here)
• Timing: The sequel will jump forward several years, but specific plot details are all top secret at this point

About That Ending…

If you only saw the theatrical cut, the film’s ending was a massive downer. But tons of fans preferred the alternate ending from the DVD where Neville lives and the 'monsters' are a little more than just mindless threats—an ending much closer to the book. The new movie is running with that version, not the original. So, basically: alternate ending is now the real canon. Make peace with it.

'I Am Legend 2 really is happening, with Michael B. Jordan joining Will Smith, and Steven Caple Jr. on board to direct.'

No word yet on how they plan to top the first movie’s empty New York scenes or which mutated creatures will show up this time, but the combination of Caple Jr., Smith, and Jordan is promising. In other words: After years of nothing but rumors and 'what ifs,' this sequel is finally out of development limbo and actually happening. As more comes out (casting, story, anything), I’ll keep you posted.