Following the grand success of the 2007 movie I Am Legend, Will Smith was supposed to return for another installment. Reprising his role as scientist Robert Neville, with Francis Lawrence returning to direct, Smith was supposed to have a prequel to his movie, after Tom Cruise saved the film from being a debacle.
In 2022 it was announced that I Am Legend will be having a prequel story to it, with Akiva Goldsman’s screenplay. However, recently Francis Lawrence revealed how he’s busy with Constantine 2 over the 2007 movie’s prequel especially since he faced issues after Warner Bros and DC changed regimes.
Director Is Busy With Constantine 2 Over I Am Legend Sequel
Right after the release of Will Smith’s I Am Legend, which turned into a box office hit, there were speculations of a potential prequel to the story. Since, by the end of the 2007 film Smith’s character was blown to smithereens, moving backward was the only way to keep him involved with the franchise. And apparently, it was all possible to hope because Tom Cruise saved the first movie from being a debacle, by helping Smith with constructive feedback.
In 2008, Warner Bros started working on the prequel to I Am Legend. Will Smith was supposed to reprise his role as scientist Robert Neville, with Francis Lawrence returning to direct. Further, even Akiva Goldsman was supposed to return with his screenplay. However, in 2011, the director disputed the claims by stating, “No, I don’t think that’s ever going to happen” while speaking with MTV.
Nonetheless, it was later announced in 2022 that work has again begun on the I Am Legend prequel. But yet again, issues and obstacles came along with the production. Eventually, Warner Bros and DC changed regimes which affected the plans for Keanu Reeves’ Constantine 2, directed by Francis Lawrence. This shifted the director’s focus from the 2007 movie’s prequel to Reeves’ DC film.
Will Smith’s I Am Legend Sequel Might Face a Delay
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Francis Lawrence therefore mentioned how he already knew that Will Smith’s 2007 cult classic would face difficulty in getting a prequel. Stating how he is currently focused on Constantine 2, after facing major obstacles with the movie, from Warner Bros and DC Studios, Lawrence mentioned that even Akiva Goldsman is working on the same.
“We’ve had many obstacles. Me, Keanu, Akiva [Goldsman] have tried over the years to wrangle some control of the character again because it had been handed over…And then the regime at DC changed, and they’ve got their plans. But luckily, we managed to wrangle some control and started working on some ideas for Constantine 2, which we’re really excited about.”
While discussing how Warner Bros’ constant change of plans affects filmmaking, Francis Lawrence was asked about Will Smith’s I Am Legend prequel. And quite frankly, the director mentioned how they had plans to create a prequel right after the first movie was released. But over the years the entire crew got busy with other projects.
“We talked about a sequel or prequel right after we made the original one. Then we all went off and did different things. And then I remember hearing that they were going to just do a reboot of it and remake it with somebody else, but then that went away. I know that Akiva is working on something now, but honestly, my focus is on Constantine 2.”
It seems Warner Bros indirectly killed Will Smith’s prequel story and now the movie is a lost cause for the people associated with the project.
