Will Smith is Legend

[edonline]

http://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=14252

Will Smith is a Legend
Source: Variety April 26, 2006

Will Smith will star in I Am Legend, the long-gestating Warner Bros. adaptation of the Richard Matheson novel to be directed by Constantine helmer Francis Lawrence.

Variety says Smith has a pay-or-play deal to make "Legend" his next project, after he completes Tonight, He Comes at Sony.

Akiva Goldsman rewrote the script and is producing. The Da Vinci Code screenwriter has a working relationship with Smith from his last sci-fi hit, I, Robot, and from Tonight, He Comes, which Goldsman is producing with Michael Mann, Smith and James Lassiter.

Goldsman rewrote an original script by Mark Protosevich. Goldsman will produce with Erwin Stoff, David Heyman and Neal Moritz.

Set in post-apocalyptic New York, I Am Legend is about the last healthy man following the release of a virus that decimates the population. To survive, he must battle mutants that wreak havoc during the night.

Smith's deal clears the way for Warner Bros. to plot an early 2007 start date on the actioner, which will be shot in New York.

[ElderPredator]

Sounds pretty damn sweet, looking forward to it.

[MadsenOMC]

Can't say I'm looking forward to it. Apparently Protosevich's script is excellent and the fact that Akiva Goldsman rewrote it is not a good sign IMO. I'm sure he watered it down and it will be PG-13. Plus, Smith is just so safe. He's a boring choice for the lead.

[therealjohng]

Wow, this is finally getting made. Wrong director, R Scott should be doing this.

[Digifruitella]

About time they got this off the ground.

[chinton]

Mutants? That would be vampires.

[bigred760]

I know very little about the book and the movie. It does sound very interesting though; I look forward to hearing more about it.

[cocksmokinclerk]

Originally posted by bigred760
I know very little about the book and the movie. It does sound very interesting though; I look forward to hearing more about it.

yep i guess i'll wait and see

[meccajay]

Originally posted by chinton
Mutants? That would be vampires.

Were there Vamps in the book? Interesting..

I remember seeing the original movie version with Charlton Heston called Omega Man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067525/). That version had some pasty faced gouls who were like mole people above ground or something. Pretty good movie for the most part.. Kinda lost me when the backdrop went from abandoned Urban LA to the LA hillside, but for the time, I guess it was a good flick..

[Shockwave]

I really like Will Smith in most of his movies, and am beyond happy that this is being made.

Color me excited.

[Mr. Fred Krueger]

Originally posted by meccajay
Were there Vamps in the book? Interesting..

I remember seeing the original movie version with Charlton Heston called Omega Man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067525/). That version had some pasty faced gouls who were like mole people above ground or something. Pretty good movie for the most part.. Kinda lost me when the backdrop went from abandoned Urban LA to the LA hillside, but for the time, I guess it was a good flick..

Actually, the original movie version wouldn't be The Omega Man, but rather The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price--which follows the book a lot closer than The Omega Man.

The monsters in the book are supposed to be vampires, not mutants.

[Lazy Boy]

I like the fact that Francis Lawrence is directing, based on the potential he showed in Constantine by not letting the CGI overtake the story.

But, just like Constantine, a dull leading man is cast and it's just so boring.

[thedudeman69]

Originally posted by Lazy Boy
I like the fact that Francis Lawrence is directing, based on the potential he showed in Constantine by not letting the CGI overtake the story.

But, just like Constantine, a dull leading man is cast and it's just so boring.


Yeah, Keanu can be boring sometimes. But, it is better than spouting one liners all the time like Smith does.

[Lazy Boy]

"Ah, hell no!"

;)

[meccajay]

Smith seems to be maturing past that 'Awe Hell No' with his subdued yet energetic performance in i robot playing Del Spooner. Apparently his wife or agent whispered in his ear about that. Could have been the director.

As far as casting goes, it always seemed to be either Arnold, or Will Smith for this role. I imagine they are aware of how they want Smith to portray the charachter.

[MrPhox]

Will Smith + Post Apocalyptic world = time for new vintage converse shoes.