Seminal horror novel I AM LEGEND is reportedly getting off the ground for real after nearly a decade in development. The final pairing that Warner Bros. has decided to give the keys to the castle to is CONSTANTINE director Francis Lawrence…and Will Smith.
This is news that will no doubt ’cause many a fanboy to roll in their not yet filled graves. Personally, I think the Smith has been a pretty darn good actor throughout his career, although with an admitted tendency to perform up or down to the material. Certainly a big step up from the past possiblity of Arnold Schwarzenneger in the lead.
As to Lawrence, I think the bleak, cynical sensibility he brought to CONSTANTINE will serve this tale of the last healthy man on earth in a battle with blood-thristy vampires well. All this to say that if the studio tries to force another soulless Will Smith July 4th spectacular down our throats then this’ll probably suck worse than I, ROBOT.
BUT, if they let a talented director do his thing, AND allow the source material they are using to actually inform the movie, this has the potential to be pretty good. I don’t find that collusion of events likely, but anything’s possible.
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