I Am Legend 2 Can Redeem A Different Will Smith Sci-Fi Movie Thanks To New Canon Ending

With I Am Legend 2
discarding the theatrical ending of I Am Legend in favor of an alternate ending, it could help improve some of Will Smith’s other sci-fi adaptations at the same time. Smith is a huge action star, but his track record in sci-fi movies has been spotty, as the movies often drastically change the source material they are based on. With I Am Legend, the original novel was based on a book by Richard Matheson that told a very different story to the movie.

Instead of a nuanced story about vampires, and analyzing how sometimes the monster in a story is more about the perspective than the outward appearance, the movie was a straightforward dystopian sci-fi with monsters. But Smith also starred in I, Robot, which was an even bigger departure from the source material by Isaac Asimov. Despite these movies and their clear changes, the fact that I Am Legend 2 has changed the earlier films’ ending is a great start to mending these missteps.

I Am Legend 2 Can Be The Book-Accurate Sci-Fi Movie That I, Robot Wasn’t

Will Smith’s Sci-Fi Adaptation Redemption Is On The Way

The novel, I Am Legend, did not have a sequel, which means that I Am Legend 2 will more than likely be an original story that builds on the world introduced in the first movie. However, by moving away from the original ending where Neville dies killing the monsters and saves the other two survivors, the sequel will have an opportunity to revisit the themes from the novel, where the line between monsters and humans is more blurred.

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I Am Legend 2 Can Introduce A Big Darkseeker Twist From The Book That Will Smith’s OG Movie Ignored

Will Smith’s upcoming sequel to 2007’s I Am Legend can turn to the source material to honor the original book while also advancing the story.

The sequel uses the alternate ending as the canonical point which it continues on from, where Robert Neville, played by Will Smith, recognizes that the monsters are actually communicating, and want their friend back. In this moment, Neville realizes that to them, he appears to be the monster, capturing their family, and experimenting on them until they die. With remorse and recognition in his eyes, Neville returns the captured monster, and the others leave in peace. Allowing Neville and the other survivors to move on and share this information.

Why I, Robot Was So Different From Isaac Asimov’s Work

I, Robot Was A Totally Different Book Of Short Stories

However, I, Robot was even more significantly different from their source material, with the movie taking the character of Dr. Calvin, and the three laws of robotics, and then running wild. The original 1950 novel, I, Robot by Isaac Asimov was a collection of short stories which revolved around Dr. Susan Calvin, and a reporter who records these stories. These stories paint the history of robotics, and highlight some incredible studies of morality through the device of this conversation.

The movie was adapted as a story about a frustrated cop who does not trust robots. While there is a Dr. Calvin, the character, is dead at the start of the story, and the cop tries to uncover what led up to his death with the aid of a robot named Sonny. Over the course of their strained partnership, Smith’s character learns that Sonny is more advanced than other robots, with the ability to dream, but it ultimately turns into a big action set piece with AI robots, explosions, and that was about it.

I Am Legend’s Original Ending And I, Robot Had The Same Problem

The Movies Were More Action Than Sci-Fi

The theatrical ending of I Am Legend ultimately gave way to action and explosions over a deeper moral narrative. Instead of digging into the way that Neville had treated these creatures, who were recently human, it highlighted the error of his judgment in taking these creatures and treating them as less than. His decision to blow himself and the monsters up at the end makes him a hero, but it also eliminates the rationality and reasoning of the creatures who simply want to live a life in their community.

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I Am Legend 2 has plenty of fascinating directions to take its story, with possible inclusions of details left out from the book and lingering plots.

I, Robot did the same thing, as it shifted away from an interesting basis which explored thought-provoking questions of morality, in favor of a big action-packed ending. The robots are monsters, the humans are heroes, and despite Sonny being a more complex robot, he sacrifices himself, essentially reducing the story down to the humans winning, the robots dying, and everyone living happily ever after. Despite using the laws of robotics, the ending eliminates the need to question more deeply, or analyze how the robots and humans could co-exist if they iron out the kinks. Hopefully I Am Legend 2 avoids this same mistake.