I Am Legend 2
Summary
Will Smith ’s absence in a popular sci - fi franchise ’s continuation seven year ago is all the more disappointing in the wake of his exciting return key forI Am Legend 2 . Smith ’s reprisal as Robert Neville for the forthcomingI AmLegendfollow - up came as a pleasant yet truly disgraceful surprise , particularly when think the destiny of his titulary character in the debut pic . As the only subsister of a mutant plague allow in New York City , Neville lookup for a cure to reverse the force of the virus that has turned the population into Darkseekers , but he succumbs to destruction at the tail end of his missionary work .
Despite his dying , the confirmedI Am Legendsequelseeks to continue Neville ’s narrativeby ignoring the film ’s theatrical flood tide and using the alternate ending where he live . Neville ’s Resurrection of Christ in the franchise is particularly delicious , as Smith expertly commanded the screen in the critically and commercially successful first film and will get the probability to recreate the conjuring trick of the cult classic for its subsequence . While this is great news program forI Am Legend 2 , Smith ’s about - impossible role reprisal set his absence seizure in the 2016Independence Daysequel in an even more disappointing perspective .
I Am Legend 2is presently in its pre - production phase .
Will Smith’s I Am Legend 2 Role Shows Independence Day 2 Didn’t Do Enough To Bring Him Back
Comparable to his role in theI Am Legendfranchise , Smith was the leading light of the cutting - edge and commercial sci - fi activity hit , Independence Day . The thespian played U.S. Marine Captain Steven Hiller and take up the fight against an apocalyptical alien encroachment in one of his earliest and most moneymaking movie roles . UnlikeI Am Legend’scapitalizing franchise , however , Independence Daydid not manage to land Will Smith back for the franchise subsequence , Independence Day : Resurgence .
As the second - highest - gross movie in Smith ’s catalogue at $ 817.4 million ( viaBox Office Mojo),Independence Dayhas maintained itself as one of the histrion ’s more darling roles . That made it a immense letdown when Independence Day : Resurgence was ineffective to fasten his participation . Smith flex downIndependence Day 2to joinSuicide Squadand get a fresh possible franchise , in spite of being written into the subsequence ’s original hand . If Smith ’s unbelievable resurrection role inI Am Legend 2is any indicator , thenIndependence Day 2simply may not have done enough to bring him back into the enfranchisement .
Why Independence Day: Resurgence Needed Will Smith
Regardless of the reason why Smith did not return forIndependence Day : revitalisation , the sequel bit the bullet and rewrite the book to come after new and returning cast extremity . Yet , without Hiller ’s vital fictional character and Smith ’s star presence , Resurgencefelt like it was miss an essential element to the overall movie . In coition to Smith ’s absence , return franchise champion Vivica A. Fox substantiate this sentiment toThe A.V. Clubby describing Smith as"the one true nexus that was missing"and that his absence was directly connected toIndependence Day 2 ’s box office disappointment .
Will Smith has spent most of his life history as a Brobdingnagian boxwood office star , but seldom does subsequence , and follow - ups made without him ordinarily lose for it .
unluckily , without Smith , Independence Day : Resurgencemade only $ 389.6 million - scantily double its budget and only half of what the original movie made . fan and critic were less than impressed with the continuation and Smith ’s absence was a big reasonableness why . While there ’s no guarantee that the actor could have preventedResurgence’sfate , the actor will now have to go for thatI Am Legend 2doesn’t knock off the chance to have him back .
generator : Box Office Mojo , The A.V. Club