I Am Legend 2: Will Smith's Big Comeback
Everything you need to know about the highly anticipated sequel to the sci-fi hit!
He's a living legend: there was a time when Will Smith was the biggest star in Hollywood. From rapper to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – then came his big-screen breakthrough with "Bad Boys", "Independence Day", and "Men in Black": three years, three megablockbusters. A lot of time has passed since then. There have been many more hits, but also quite a few flops. Especially after the notorious slap at the Oscars, Will Smith seemed to have fallen out of favor with many of his former fans for good.
But what can he do? How can he win back the hearts of audiences? The answer lies at the box office: in 2024, "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" was one of the most successful movies of the year. Clearly, audiences still haven't had enough of Will Smith – as long as he appears in the kinds of roles that generations of moviegoers still love him for.
That includes the lead role in one of the great sci-fi classics of the 2000s: "I Am Legend". And indeed: Part 2 is on the way! Does the sequel have the potential to bring Will Smith back to the very top? Let's find out together – in this KinoCheck movie preview!
The Story
Extremely important for the story: the plot of "I Am Legend 2" is based on the alternate ending of the original film. This is a key requirement for Will Smith's return – after all, his character dies in the theatrical cut. However, the home release features an alternate version of the story in which he survives. In it, he realizes that the infected are sentient beings with their own society. He eventually leaves the city along with other survivors.
Good news for fans of the first movie: the new story is once again penned by screenwriter Akiva Goldsman. He emphasized that this time they intend to follow Richard Matheson's original novel even more closely. The focus is on the idea that humanity is no longer the dominant species on Earth.
The novel "I Am Legend" has been adapted a few times for the screen: in the 1960s with horror actor Vincent Price, and in the 1970s with Charlton Heston. For the 2007 film, Ridley Scott and Michael Bay were at one point considered as directors, and Arnold Schwarzenegger was among those discussed for the lead role. In the end, as we know, the role went to Will Smith – and it remains one of his most iconic performances to this day.
The sequel is set to take place several decades after the first movie. There has even been talk of portraying Will Smith as older in the story than he actually is. The actor spoke about the sequel back in 2022: at first, he hadn't really believed a follow-up would happen. But the idea for the planned story ultimately won him over. He even called it a "really, really cool concept."
For Part 2, screenwriter Goldsman revealed that he was inspired by the popular video game "The Last of Us". An interesting statement – especially since the game was released several years after "I Am Legend". In fact, the movie itself was one of the sources of inspiration for the game.
The Cast
Will Smith is not the only star set to appear in "I Am Legend 2". Also on board is "Sinners" actor Michael B. Jordan. Early speculation had long suggested that he would take on the role of the former protagonist's son. However, Smith dispelled this rumor in a podcast in April 2025: instead, Jordan will play the head of a settlement in Connecticut. He is also heavily involved in the development of the sequel. In the same interview, Smith also mentioned that he and Goldsman had originally planned a prequel before deciding on a sequel instead.
The Director
A legendary movie, two great lead actors, a proven screenwriter – now all that's missing is the right director. Well, nothing has been set in stone yet. Many are surely hoping for Francis Lawrence to return to the director's chair – over the years, he has repeatedly commented on Part 2 and its rocky development. At Comic-Con 2024, Goldsman did reveal there was good news regarding who would be directing the film: Steven Caple Jr., who previously worked with Michael B. Jordan on "Creed II", appeared to be the favored choice. However, a final decision still has yet to be made.
The Release Date of I Am Legend 2
The story is set, the crew is almost complete – but the big question remains: when will "I Am Legend 2" hit theaters? A 2024 release was originally planned – but that was quite a while ago. The people involved leave no doubt that they are committed to making the film. Still, there are no concrete plans yet for when production will begin. As soon as that changes, you'll hear it from us immediately, of course!