The Despised Ending of Will Smith’s ‘I Am Legend’ Is Officially Toast

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Warning: This article contains spoilers for I Am Legend.

This year, the much-anticipated sequel to Will Smith’s “I Am Legend” is set to hit the cinemas, but not quite in the way the producers and director initially planned. So, what kind of sequel can fans of the original film expect? Interestingly, according to early reports from producer Akiva Goldsman as reported by Deadline, the film will disregard the last 15 minutes of the 2007 zombie hit, choosing instead to focus on a previously unseen, deleted scene. In essence, this sequel can be seen more as an apology or rectification rather than a remake.

Inconsistencies often arise, but it’s problematic when a franchise abruptly switches directions and tries to deceive audiences instead of delivering on their expectations. For instance, in the 2007 post-apocalyptic movie, the character Dr. Robert Neville (portrayed by Smith) defeats the hordes of “Darkseekers” and sacrifices himself for a cure at the end. The original, discarded ending was much darker, and this alteration significantly shifted the film’s focus from a profound exploration of human nature to a typical blockbuster movie. What price do films pay when they abandon an unsettling final act, and what does this say about the effectiveness of audience testing?

The Dangers of Diverging From Source Material

Previously, several cinematic interpretations of Richard Matheson’s science fiction story had been made. The earliest adaptation featured Vincent Price, while a remake starring Charlton Heston emerged in the 70s. These films paved the way for a wave of zombie movies, even though they were actually based on groups of vampires. Interestingly, “The Last Man on Earth” (1964) and “The Omega Man” (1971) predated George Romero’s iconic zombie film by four years. Both these films were solid productions in their own right, but a modern remake could introduce fresh perspectives and artistic decisions.

Regrettably, it appeared that no one was satisfied with the final outcome of the movie. Over the past 18 years, there have been doubts about its conclusion. In the 2007 remake, Neville successfully develops a cure for the Krippin Virus at the last moment, saving the species through his groundbreaking research. A neat resolution that ties up all loose ends. However, some might say it’s overly tidy. In this third version, the studio abandoned the original ending as Matheson had written it – a somber and impactful climax where Neville develops compassion for those he kills and grapples with profound existential questions.

According to film historian Glen Donnar, this cut scene is pivotal for understanding the “monsters” in the movie and Neville’s character development. Specifically, it showcases Neville’s realization of his own monstrous nature as he empathizes with the pain of his zombie experiment subjects. Instead, the version we saw in theaters followed conventional “hero tropes” found in science fiction-apocalyptic films, reinforcing stereotypes and not provoking thought about our perception of reality, morality, or societal norms. Essentially, the film supports the notion that science cannot be evil, and enemies don’t deserve compassion. Many I Am Legend fans felt deceived by this ending, but there is much more to the story than meets the eye.

Listen to Focus Groups at Your Own Peril

Many films have suffered significant changes or outright spoilage due to last-minute adjustments. For instance, the original vision of “Blade Runner,” directed by Ridley Scott, underwent alterations in the transition from his mind to the script, and was further modified to cater to the preferences of test audiences. We’re not trying to deliver a public service announcement here, but there are numerous instances from the past that serve as cautionary tales when discussing the pitfalls of focus group decisions.

In the case of the Will Smith film, the original ending was swapped out after it received unfavorable feedback due to its somber and reflective tone, as depicted in this clip, which can only be found on later DVD releases.

The story doesn’t end here; instead, the producer Akiva Goldsman has confirmed a 2025 sequel that will disregard the cinematic ending, returning to the original finale seen only in DVD/Blu-ray versions. This serves as a reminder that test screenings should be viewed with caution, and while they can sometimes rescue films, there are instances where they don’t, such as in the cases of “Blade” and the original “Rambo” (“First Blood”).

Swapping Horses Midstream … Sage or Cynical?

Though I Am Legend didn’t tarnish the reputation of the Oscar-winning actor, it was perceived by many as a missed chance. A sequel is planned, featuring both Smith and Michael B. Jordan. This, as you might have guessed, poses a tricky predicament. The studio hopes that viewers will either forget the first part or not mind significant changes for convenience. However, this could be seen as disrespectful to those who appreciated the 2007 film’s conclusion. Instead, audiences may find Will Smith reprising his role in part two, but this time as a remorseful butcher of mutated plague victims rather than a noble savior of humanity.

This narrative shift is essentially an acknowledgment from the creators that they made a mistake in the previous version. It opens up new opportunities for story development. While we can’t fault them for this decision, we can’t help but suspect that the lack of a major star and the virus outbreak scenario were the real factors behind this change. The original ending left the rights holders with limited options.

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2025-01-06 06:01