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I AM LEGEND finally set to shoot'
Hey folks, Harry here... I AM LEGEND... Richard Matheson's brilliant work, twice adapted to screen thus far.... Once by Vincent Price (the best version) then most iconically by Charlton Heston. This third adaptation has been a thing of legend in its own right. From the adaptation by Mark Protosevich, which was nearly perfect save for the pandering ending required by Warner Brothers... It has seen different producers and directors as often as... well as Warner's own SUPERMAN. Well it looks like Francis Lawrence, director of CONSTANTINE, has finally tamed the beast. I'm hearing that Will Smith will star... which makes this his first foray into horror. He's fought Aliens and Robots... so why not Vampires. Personally, I can see this... but only if he gives himself over to the tragedy of the role. The melancholy of being the Last Man on Earth. Now, if they're planning on actually shooting this in New York.. that means a pretty huge scale for this. Both previous adaptations were in the more sprawling Los Angeles. Let's see where this goes, I just hope they've kept the books ending... after all, the title isn't I AM A LIVING LEGEND...
Just thought you should be aware - on the "Reel Jobs" section on the
Mayor's office website of New York City, they've listed the Richard
Matheson adaptation "I Am Legend" in need of a scout staff, aiming for
a May 5th start date of actual *shooting*.
First I've heard of this - but hey, I'm looking forward to it.
- SR Hadden
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...I just don't see the Fresh Prince in this role. Let's hope he has some much needed depth and gravitas I've not yet seen in his work.
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This book rules. The best choice for writting and directing it is obviously ME. Honestly, it truly reflects my evolving sensibility. I will be legend.
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That's what I think of Smith in this role.
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this is a piece of shit script. i'd be interested if he were trying to help the uglier vampires hook up with the hotter vampires in gay relationships... but alas, no, this is going to suck ass. not even cuz of will smith.. i think it's more along the lines of the script sucking and the premise being stupid.
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You are the king of this site, yes you can't say *SPOILER WARNING* before you give away the ending of the f***ing book?!? I had never read the book or seen either of the movies. Thanks a lot. Jerk.
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Nice spelling topaz. Love, topaz.
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I haven't read the John Logan script that's online but I may. I love this book so much.
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SPOILER! had the vampires all tribal, wearing body paint and loic clothes, divided into different warrior tribes. And Neville and the chick and a kid escape on a tugboat. It was fucking, fucking awful. I'd like to see Smith play this without a hint of humor. But I won't hold my breath.
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not that we equate dollars with success or anything...
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It's a vampire yarn, nothing more nothing less. I hope they do change the ending. I've read both the script in question and the novella, and although the script can't hold a candle to matheson, it does introduce some cool concepts. For one, the main guy is more proactive, which is a plus for a flick, and for 2, he lives at the end. A tragic ending is great for a book, but for a movie, especially a Will Smith vehicle,the dood has to kick ass and win.
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Apr 04, 2005 3:37:49 AM CDT
How many times will Smith refer to himself as a negro in this mo
by maxcalifornia.
Wow, Will Smith as the only guy on screen for most of the movie. That should suit his ego just fine.
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hell ruin the film -- charlton heston to will smith -- expect the music video with the dancing vampires, lots of "wink wink" smirking jokes, will smith blasting dozens of vampires in the climax a la I ROBOT and NOT dying. Great another great film fucked up by casting. Cant wait for the MTV's TRL "I AM LEGEND" music sweepstakes and the shot of Will Smith riding a souped up convertible in a desolate city shooting mutants with an UZi - great.....
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blacks: the first in... and the last out. that'd be the best tagline for the film. i'd fucking see that shit... matinee though. that is, if i can't find a bootleg.
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Apr 04, 2005 4:25:27 AM CDT
You can buy the Vincent Price version for one dollar at Target.
by hercules
Because HD DVDs are coming before year's end.
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Back Talkers talking shit about Will Smith. What is it with you guys? So he has a big ego, well, he deserves it. Making grade A flicks for the last ten years. Sure there were soms turkeys like Bad Boys II and Men in Black II, but anyone who wasn't impressed with him playing Ali is a freakin' nutjob. So stop the Will bashin' and just admit you like his movies. By the way he doesn't rap and act in a movie since MIB II.
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... will fuck this up. He can play serious but he has never done it in a genre film so I doubt he'll do it here. Last year's I ROBOT was stunningly awful but made a lot of cash ($150 million+) so no doubt they'll take the same approach with this film. Meaning there'll be tons of god-awful wisecracks, Will Smith running away from explosions while yelling and pulling faces ... Fucking shit. After how long it took for this film to get made, this is what we get. A forgettable piece of crap that will be about as memorable as WILD WILD WEST.
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Apr 04, 2005 5:04:40 AM CDT
Gotta agree that the Protosevitch script that Harry raves so muc
by commando cody
Really, it was average at best, and when Arnold was attached you could literally "see" all the Arnie moments that were in there to keep him happy. Or to show off his bulk and size of that time. As for the vampires, they were ok. My biggest gripe with the script was **** SPOILER WARNING **** the bullshit with the girl he saves really being a plant to turn traitor to get her captured brother back. Emotionally, I didn't mind a traitor doing that, but the way the script is the girl fuck's Arnold over and once he's captured and tortured he instantly forgives her and they're working together to escape together. On paper, it was just too fast and too jammed in and just reeked likewise of "We put this in to make so-and-so the actress AND keep her happy by having her stick around to the end, kicking butt." Would I see it? Sure. Was it the greatest thing since slice bread or the best adapted take you could imagine on Matheson's story as Harry would have you believe? Hell no.
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I hope this follows the book more closely than the Charlton Heston version. The book is brilliant. I bought it and read it in the same day. Please don't tack on a 'happy' ending. I know the ending is downbeat but it is essential to the whole point of the story. When he looks at all the mutants who are now scared of HIM becuase he is now no longer the norm, and pronounces 'now I am legend' is the whole point of the stroy. Any other ending that does not allow him to say this will make no sense.
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This is identical to the irobot shitmess. Again the itle is the point of the story but they disregard that and just use the name for promotion. irobot did,'t need to be called irobot at all. It had nothing to do with the book and therefore the title became meaningless. The Heston version was terrible by the way.
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those who say I Robot was shit are just retards. I,Robot was one of the few movies out last year that had an actual STORY. imagine that. The plot was very well developed and paced perfectly. not to talk about amazing effects and good humor in most places. That is obviously the mark of a great movie. So if you lames have no sense of humor, and just like to bash Will Smith for no reason, at least try to have a sense of what makes a good plot and what good special effects are. Thats why studio execs don't give a fuck about you guys. You can't be pleased, so you'll continue bitching until water floods your basement and you have to move out for some reason.
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So just like 'I, Robot' i'm going to have ignore this film's existence out of respect for the book in hand. I like Will Smith (some of the time) but I hate movies treating there source material for shit. As people have pointed out, a happy ending pretty much moots the title "I am Legend" and tribal vampires sounds like an excuse for giant action set-pieces. If this was run as an 'Omega Man' remake then I could live with that or any other title so that we know it's an interpretation of the novel. If we're lucky, maybe some atomic dust-clouds will hit the earth before production starts.
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There may be two different edits of the Vincent Price version, because the one I've always seen is clearly shot in Rome. The director was Ubaldo Ragona who also wrote the screenplay.
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Will Smith... Get the FUCK away from this movie! It could work if only he'd stop inserting his fucking awful one-liners. Use an actor that won't interfere with the script, and let the DIRECTOR do his thing, without egomaniacal 'superstars' destroying the film.
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You Forgot the Homer Simpson version of I am Legend.Can
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Apr 04, 2005 8:34:03 AM CDT
SirBiatchReturns are you actually defending IRobot? Didn't you a
by regicidal_maniac
Hahahahaha! I'm just kidding I actually enjoyed IRobot, for what it was, it would have been better if it had either been a bit smarter like it wanted to be or all the way dumb fun like ID4. Having said that I can totally see Will Smith ruining this film, he could be good but the studio will demand sassy Will that the lowest common denominator finds so appealing. Oh why couldn't this have been Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ridley Scott? Or alternately a serious version starring character actors like Michael Wincott or Gary Dourdan (yes I'm casting out of AR but I like both these actors) or Oded Fehr or Bruce Campbell (kidding, had to be said)... But NOOOO the multiplex audience demands a NAME a recognizable face or they'd be in danger of losing themselves to the story rather than the spectatorial pleasure of watching a "star" prance around and go through the motions striking poses that will be immortalised on luncboxes and in action figures. Fuck Hollywood. Damn it why can't I stop consuming their addictive faeces????
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They know this right? Right?
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...just deal with it! Plus, he is entetaining as hell when on screen so keep your lame ass boring as Anglo wishlist actors cuz Will is the only A-list actor who loves to do this geek shit...so shut the fuck up and either see the damn flick or sit your dumbass home and watch Star Wars again. I'll see I am Legend.
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If you want a black actor for this role, at least get Denzel, at least he can act good on a constant basis. Smith is OK actor he's just not great
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He's now bumped off Tom Hanks to join Tom Cruise on the very short list of the two actors that pretty much ALWAYS make a hit movie. He's always likeable, even in utter shit like WWW. I think geeks don't like him because he's not a curse-a-minute gravely-voiced "motherfucker" of a black actor like Ving Rhames (sp?) or Sam Jackson. (Not that there's anything wrong with them either, but I'm just saying...) Oh, and also because Will's popular and makes more money than those guys. Anything else to piss people off? Ah! I liked I Robot better than your boring-ass Incredibly-Overated-ables movie.
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All I remember from IRobot is the scene where Will Smith chases a robot whom he
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woot
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I was going to tear into you for the odd elevated standing iRobot has in your film appreciation ledger, specifically for your claims about how it's plot/story was well paced and developed, but the end of your post kind of made my argument for me. Anybody who can set up a flooding basmenet and then has to find "some reason" for the occupant(s) of said basment to move out really has no place talking about plot or story development. And as for why the robot would snatch the lady's purse, it's all explained by Sam Waterston in that SNL skit/commercial: robots eat people's medicine, and purses are obviously where people keep their pills when not at home. And when those robots grab you with those shiny metal claws, it hurts. So buy robot insurance. All of that said, Will Smith could do the role if he played it straight and kept the mugging/"I am so fucking charming" attitude completely off screen. Not sure if he can do that, but I'd like to see it.
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A movie that could have been great turned into a Smith film. I robot was kinda decent, much better than biccentenial man, but smith was anoying as hell.
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And it will be bad.
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If Will Smith the actor, like say in, 6 Degrees of Separation, shows up, it could be really good. I could deal with WS bravado and a one-liner or two, if he plays as a man realizes civilization as he knows it has ended. And he is the only savior for human race. But if he is Will Smith of ID4/I,R forget it... Get Lawrence Fishburne to do it. Or Samuel Jackson. Even Ving Rhames could pull it off.
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According to last Thursday's issue of Back Stage newspaper's "Backlot Buzz" section, filming is postponed due to unavailkability of final shooting script as per the studio. It didn't say when they may start filming.
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butcher this classic novel! I've waited years for this film to be done properly and this is what we get? A shitty script and Will "hip-hop one liner" Smith? "Oh Hell No!"
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...should never be allowed to show his mug on camera again. EVER. Goddammit Warner Bros, why do you have to rape every fucking property you touch.
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. . . with the last man alive being black. And if spike lee directed it. One of the vampire tribes could be made up of broad italian stereotypes, and Neville (will smith) could seduce the female vampires with his "jungle fever" power and the climax could be wop vampires vs. JAP vampires. Will Smith distracts them all by "gettin' jiggy wit' it" in white face, culminating in a thriller style dance-off that lays the foundation for I am Legend Two: Electric Boogaloo.
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Apr 04, 2005 1:52:12 PM CDT
But Seriously. . . Ernest Dickerson should be directing this. .
by harry coin
he is one under rated director. His last film with DMX was gritty and mean and uncompromising and that is what I Am Legend needs to be. Plus, he can handle horror better than Lawrence. Demon Knight was twice as scary as Constantine, probably done on an eigth of Constantine's budget, and way more stylish. Plus, Demon Knight had THC, Sadler, and Zoolander's buddy Billy Zane. I Am Legend should not be shot in New York. Too many vampires to handle! If i recall correctly, the original took place in a suburb in L.A., and lent the book a creepy suburban deterioration vibe.
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I'm not happy about no R. Scott. I would prefer some else other than Will Smith.
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At least now the actions scenes have a chance of having spatial continuity. Some shots may even last longer than .5 seconds.
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I work as a backround extra and wondered to D Vader or anybody else who read the script, if there are alot of big crowd, stunt and/or action scenes, thereby increasing my potential for work.
Glad they are filming in NYC too !!!
Thank You Much. -
Uh geek monkeys, Will Smith did not write the script, produce or direct, so why don't you direct your petty (irrational) diatribes at the producers/Studio and lets' dare to be different and stop beginning your day with ice-cold glasses of HATERADE.
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I just hope it doesn't end up being a blatant audi or chuck taylor commercial.
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"Oh no you didn't just try to suck my blood!"
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You can literally hear the Willisms all ready can't you? Plus, if they go with Protosevich's script the film may aswell be called "Blade 4: I Am Legend". Helloooooo, black man in leather hunts bald vampires with loads of guns and an armoured jeep???? I can tolerate Will and he sure is a nice guy but boy does he love himself! And Frances Lawrence? Constantine reeked of MTV and the guy pussied out when it came to casting Keanu. Would you rather see a cocky, dry witted scouser with blond hair and a trench coat killing demons or......Neo? In a dream world I would love Ridley Scott to still be attached to I Am Legend but I think they should've gone ahead with Rob Bowman as they were going to a few years back. Given a decent budget I think he could nail it. Oh, and I mentioned Ruffalo or Craig for Neville, right? Oh well, I can wish. "You damn vampires get offa ma caaaaaaaar!".
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This is now filed officially under 'Future Films that will suck'. How about Justin Timberlake and Brandy in a cameo? You could have Smith in a 'Pimp My Ride' type of car, a hip hop soundtrack (Whoo Whoo!), and some AWESOME CG zombies that look more at home in PlayStation 2 than on the big screen. This will be a HORRORFEST! because if Will Smith is anything, hes not a mildly talented commercial placement. His handlers know what works in a SMITH! movie. Lots of jokes, some 'hardbody and grim' shots, man, this is now on track, baby!!!!! To the doubters, I say thisz: Read 'I Robot' and then watch the movie. Tell me this is not what the story is all about. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Apr 04, 2005 4:14:36 PM CDT
I am one man of color who doesn't want Will Smith anywhere near
by batutta
He ruined I, Robot with his Big Willie style theatrics, and I fear he'll do the same to this property. The man ever said himself that he would've ruined The Matrix with his constant need to "perform" and is glad Keanu go that role. Guess what, Willie?You're about to ruin this too.
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I Am Legend is one of only a handful of books that I have read several times. I've enjoyed all of Richard Matheson's written work and adaptations - especially his scripts for the original Twilight Zone series, The Kolchak Night Stalker teleplays, the Dan Curtis version of Dracula featuring Jack Palance, The Legend of Hell House, and The Incredible Shrinking Man. As much as I did enjoy both The Last Man on Earth and Omega Man, I still think that his greatest book (in my opinion) has not yet been successfully translated to the screen. With the the casting of Will Smith, it looks like the third time WON'T be the charm in this case.
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no, no,no,please not will smith.there is no way he could pull this off,he's too superficial.this is going to be another Will Smith appreciation society film,it'll be all about him and the picture will be swallowed up by his big persona.the only character he can play is himself!
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It's one of those films that actually seems to take place in real time. When Price drives to the office he leaves the house, walks down the sidewalk, gets into his car, drives for about the same amount of time it would take to drive there, gets out of the car, walks up the sidewalk and goes inside. It's like reading a decompressed Marvel comic.
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Apr 04, 2005 5:51:50 PM CDT
Must check out the V. Price version. But if Smith is attached to
by computerguy68
Fuck that shit!
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Apr 04, 2005 5:52:27 PM CDT
Well it looks like Francis Lawrence, director of CONSTANTINE, ha
by harker-writes
Constantine was terrible. Why would anyone think I Am Legend would be better. Another good project ruined before it has begun.
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*sigh*
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this is bullshit
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WHY RUIN THE BOOK? Will is not the actor for this!!!He locked Proyas out of the editing room for I robot. He'll fuck this up too. BTW i love to see the will lovers turn this into something about race. What the fuck does race have to do with this? SMith's a shitty actor with an ego that will try to make this movie a WILL SMITH production with one liners.
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It'll be more like Michael Jackson's "Thriler" video than either Vincent Price or Charlton Heston movie.
Hollywood, get off the PG, MTV crap and make movies. -
Apr 04, 2005 10:07:59 PM CDT
I can't imagine they'd tap Francis Lawrence if they didn't want
by ribbons
It'll probably toe the line in between both horror and action genres. I'd prefer if it skewed more towards horror just because it would be a pleasant surprise from Will Smith, but take a look at his resume for the last 8 years and it's quite evident that exploring new territory is not his M.O. We'll see.
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Apr 04, 2005 10:26:21 PM CDT
Of course you could "see" Will Smith in the role! Wouldn't want
by iamjacksuserid
We all know how well I, Robots turned out, right?
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NO SHIT. That's like some kind of joke. In other news, Owen Wison is slated to play the terminator in T4. Ben Still directs.
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Will Smith? Uh...Kiss this baby goodbye then. If you want your horror/scifi to be realistic or atmospheric or scary forget Will Smith. Will Smith Absolutely RUINS any scifi/horror movie hes in. I Robot could have been brilliant save for the cartoonish over the top HAM known as Will Smith. Do you remember Him Flipping off his motorcycle going 50 miles an hour doing a flip and landing on his feet shooting? You just know that Will Smith the "BIG" movie star put pressure to have his character do that. He is still stuck in TV land-wink-at the audience-mode". Nothing this guy does in an action film/scifi/horror rings true. He and Michael Bay are the perfect match for each other because they both have the same sensibilities..."make it BIG and OVER the TOP...forgo ANY sense of realism for cartoon violence, and through subtle nuances out the window. So if Will Smith will do this picture, you just know it won't be dark or haunting or anything more than the camera ZOOMING up to an extreme closeup on Will Smiths face when he says lines like "HELL NO!" as hordes of vampires storm his compound. ugh!
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comedic ghetto movies. Please, will , do us a favor and DIE!!
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I've been saying this for years. Michael Wincott should have this role. He can do this. Will Smith? Changed ending? Tribes of vampires? Why not just make a movie called "I, Vampire" and leave the book alone?
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It's called "The Last Man on Earth" and it follows the book pretty closely. They ARE vampires. You're thinking of something else with zombies in it.
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Cole Hauser.
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and cole hauser as neville....isn't a terrible idea.....
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Just get Russell Crowe to play Neville and I'll be a happy camper.
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... it simply hadn't been called I, Robot.
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... cuz that just about broke my heart. Seriously.
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Apr 05, 2005 3:16:32 PM CDT
So the first time Will Smith views the multitude of Vampires ...
by riskebiz
Will smith say "Awwwww HELLLL No!"?
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You idiot! Have you learned nothing?! NOBODY says "broke my heart!" It's a meaningless cliched colloquialism that does a disservice to the abstract emotions that you're trying to express! Find a more creative outlet for your feelings, dammit! Just kidding, by the way.
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Apr 06, 2005 3:54:40 AM CDT
You got that wrong, it`s not gonna be Will Smith with Francis La
by chien_sale
That`s right, folks. And it`s gonna be in Brooklyn. And there`s gonna be a Barber Shop. And some other roles will be play by Lawrence like an old lady smashing vampires with her big fake tits. And Duane from Different World will play a zombie preacher who loses his dick. MARK MY WORDS.
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There are a few things I don't understand about this adaptation of Richard Matheson's great novel.
Firstly, why does the Hollywood machine insist on taking great, unsettling ideas that tap into our western consciousness and churn them out as scare fare for the American Mid-West. Why???? If they want to make Legend in a way that'll stop it just turning into another star vehicle these are the caveats.
1) Legend could be made anywhere in the world at a low budget. NY is NOt the city required. To make the isolation make sense it should be a mid-Western city. That small town isolation with your neighbours trying to kill you night after night is important
2)A star is not required. Neville should be an internalised monster of the day. For his character to work he needs to be a man who expects to find no quarter...the last human alive with no trace of humanity left. The audience needs to believe in Neville...not see a Hollywood star flex 'personal trainer' muscle and firing out quips alond with bullets. Neville's life is 95% silence with 5% Wagnerian slaughter. He is not a hero. The trick played on the audience should be that Neville starts off as the 'hero' and at the end you're just not sure. He is waging a genocidal war.
3) The vampires need to be characters. This is a turf/race war that should be similar in feel to Jeremiah Johnson's fight witht he Native Americans...get a John Milius vibe to the whole thing. They are Homo Sapien 2.0. Neville should represent the savage.
4) No need for major CGI. This is regression to a dark age.
5) No happy ending....apart from the fact that the new vampires are a new and stronger humanity and Neville is a boogy man. A Legend.
If anyone actually reads this, which I doubt, then remember that this 'horror' touches a deep vein of fear in every person. To be alone and under attack in a battle you cant win.
Don't let Bush era America ruin this classic piece of 50's paranoid horror.
If you've read this, thanks.
Jim McConnachie
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