Why resurrecting Will Smith's character in 'I Am Legend 2' poses a BIG problem
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, will return in 'I Am Legend 2' by following the alternate ending of the first movie in which he lives, but there might be an issue with this. The eagerly anticipated 'I Am Legend' sequel will hopefully conform more closely to Richard Matheson's book. The novel ends with the character's demise but the plot also had Neville learning that vampires, or Darkseekers as they are known in the movie, are capable of emotional connection.
In the original 'I Am Legend' ending, Neville gave up his life to allow the Krippin Virus cure he had discovered to reach other survivors across the globe to save the rest of humanity. However, in the alternate ending of the film, Neville discovers that the creatures he had been capturing and testing were capable of love. This was also true of the 'I Am Legend' novel, however in contrast to the book, Neville lives to see another day. As a result, it is uncertain if Neville will be 'resurrected' in 'I Am Legend 2' or not.
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Sequel poses unique problem with Will Smith's return
'I Am Legend 2' will reportedly adhere to the 'alternate' ending in which Neville is miraculously revived. This puts the sequel in an awkward situation, though. Will the franchise then make a commitment to keep Neville alive and see him through the upcoming film, or has Will Smith's character simply been brought back to life in order to kill later on in a different way?
It would be challenging to replicate the emotional impact of Robert Neville's sacrifice to save humanity if the sequel cheapens his death by bringing him back to life as audiences were wrecked by his on-screen demise in 'I Am Legend'. It would seem like the sequel was attempting a blatant cash grab by meddling with the movie's original ending to bring back their box office star Will Smith. Audiences who loved the first film and its sad but poignant ending may also feel silly if the character is ressurected not because the plot demands it but because of box office considerations. If Robert Neville survives in 'I Am Legend 2', it would fundamentally contradict the entire plot of the first movie. How did he become the acclaimed "legend" without dying first?
Legends are known for their sacrifice
The 'I Am Legend' movie's alternate conclusion doesn't really explain the title. This suggests that fans will learn how Will Smith's character will become a legend by following this particular rendition of the story and will depend entirely on how the sequel ends or what happens to his character in the sequel. But considering the broader themes of the novel, Neville's death might be the only one that makes sense. Naturally, 'I Am Legend 2' will have to get creative about how it approaches Neville's resurrection so the franchise doesn't 'jump the shark' or mock audience expectations.
