Warner Fast-Tracks 'I Am Legend'
Filed under: Warner Brothers, Scripts, Newsstand
Apparently, someone over at Warner Brothers thinks that a third movie version of Richard Matheson's classic sci-fi novel, I Am Legend, is necessary. Well, okay, maybe it is. The first one, the solid 1964 Vincent Price movie The Last Man On Earth, was in black-and-white, so naturally, it cannot be very good, at least in the eyes of the younger audiences to whom a remake would appeal most. And the second one? Well, the mangled and dated 1971 Charlton Heston version, The Omega Man -- it had albino mutant chicks with afros (say no more). This one will be directed by Constantine helmer Francis Lawrence, and is expected to start shooting in 2006 for a 2007 release. The movie has not yet been cast, though both Will Smith and Arnold Schwarzenegger have been attached to the project in the past. The long, strange trip it's been from page to screen is documented in The Greatest Science Fiction Movies Never Made (along with Tim Burton's Superman Lives). In 2003, IDW Publishing released a graphic novel of Matheson's story, which is about the lone survivor of a global apocalypse.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-19-2005 @ 5:24PM
The Jeremy said...
They need a new script. The Proselvich (sic) script is dated and the Blade trilogy has already taken two main plot points from it. Matheson dislikes the script too.
Warners really needs to let this sit for a couple more years. After Buffy/Angel and the Blade films, the general public is pretty much vamped out for now.
And Warners, start plotting out a decent actor to portray Robert Neville. Will Smith is *NOT* suitable for the role. The last decent suggestion for the role was Kurt Russell, but he'll be too old now. Either hold off and get Christian Bale (who might balk though due to too much genre work by then) or get Nathan Fillion. No Smith. Repeat again, no Will Smith.
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9-19-2005 @ 5:25PM
Finished.Law.School said...
The book this story is based on is pretty good. The Vincent Price version was not that good. I have yet to see Omega Man. I hope Will Smith is not in this. His ego acting would not go well with the story.
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