I Am Legend 2 Can Fix the Movie’s Biggest Mistake

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Approximately two decades ago, the film “I Am Legend” deviated significantly from its source material, the novel, leaving many fans disappointed. However, there’s hope for rectification with the upcoming “I Am Legend 2”. Generally speaking, the 2007 movie was a decent hit. Will Smith delivered a captivating performance, and the portrayal of a nature-reclaimed New York City was mesmerizing. Regrettably, the film bore little resemblance to the book it was adapted from. While the movie did present a post-apocalyptic landscape where a man named Robert Neville appeared to be the sole survivor, almost everything else was altered dramatically.

Intriguingly, the original ending of “I Am Legend” in the movies was more aligned with Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel. This version depicted Smith’s character Robert Neville discovering that the creatures he had been testing and slaughtering (referred to as Darkseekers in the film) were capable of love and companionship. This revelation significantly altered his perception of his role on Earth. The forthcoming “I Am Legend 2” is expected to follow the alternate ending instead of the cinematic release, which could potentially rectify a vexing mistake concerning the Darkseekers.

I Am Legend 2 Can Portray The Darkseekers More Like Vampires Than Zombies

The Sequel Can Fix A Massive Book Change

2007’s movie “I Am Legend” portrayed Smith’s character surviving in a world overrun by zombie-like creatures, but in Matheson’s book, the Krippin Virus spawned monsters that were more akin to vampires than traditional zombies. When infected individuals passed away, their bodies came back to life like zombies. However, these mindless creatures weren’t the main threat. The primary antagonists for Neville were those who had survived the Krippin Virus. They weren’t decaying corpses, but rather bloodthirsty monsters who retained a certain level of sophistication.

it turned out these creatures weren’t merely mindless as they seemed. The protagonist, Neville, arrived at the same conclusion he did in the book; he realized that the beings he had been slaughtering were capable of forming societies and experiencing love. This revelation painted him as the monster from their perspective. With “I Am Legend 2” set some decades after the first movie, it’s possible we might encounter the more vampire-like versions of the initial Darkseekers, hinting at a higher level of sophistication. The original creatures had already shown signs of intelligence, and with time to evolve further, this could develop much more in line with the book’s portrayal.

Why I Am Legend Changed The Darkseekers From “Vampires” To “Zombies”

The 2007 Movie Fit With The Trends

The team behind the 2007 film “I Am Legend” opted to make it a zombie movie instead of a vampire one, possibly due to the popular trends of the era. Zombie apocalypses were highly fashionable in the late 2000s and early 2010s, leading to the assumption that the Darkseekers would be more appealing. On the other hand, at that time, vampires were often associated with romantic dramas, which was not the direction “I Am Legend” took. However, it’s worth noting that the Darkseekers in the film exhibit characteristics similar to both zombies and vampires.

In the movie “I Am Legend”, the creatures resemble zombies, yet they’re sensitive to sunlight, which is more characteristic of vampires. This twist, turning them into vampire-like creatures, made the alternate ending more impactful because regular zombies are usually portrayed as mindless, emotionless beings. Even in the original version, Neville eventually came to understand these monsters had depth beyond his initial understanding. Although the change from vampires to zombies initially seemed irritating, it now presents an opportunity for a much more intriguing sequel to “I Am Legend”.

I Am Legend’s Alternate Ending Showed That The Darkseekers Were Intelligent After All

It Will Be Interesting To See How They Have Evolved Since

In the original cut of “I Am Legend,” there was no scope for further storytelling as Robert Neville perished, while Anna went to a settlement to share his cure. The movie was purely about a zombie apocalypse with little else to offer. However, the alternate ending of “I Am Legend” presented a much deeper and intriguing narrative. Instead of seeing other creatures as monsters, Neville realized that he was the monster in their eyes. He had been killing their kind, and it became essential for him to acknowledge that they were the rightful inheritors of the Earth and he needed to relinquish control.

Absolutely, the various endings in the original “I Am Legend” film left little scope for developing the concept further. The advanced, vampire-like creatures were rarely shown. However, “I Am Legend 2” has the opportunity to build upon this narrative. The Darkseekers in the sequel might be more advanced, potentially resembling traditional vampires with a pale complexion but retaining humanoid features. Thus, whereas the first “I Am Legend” film explored the concept of being Earth’s last man, “I Am Legend 2” could delve into moral themes, shedding light on what truly defines humanity.

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2025-04-29 02:29