Merrick here...


Back 'round Comic Con, I AM LEGEND director Francis Lawrence indicated that discussions were afoot regarding a possible I AM LEGEND prequel.

Looks like that's close to happening now that a script is being written by D.B. Weiss.

The prequel will chronicle the final days of humanity in New York before a man-made virus caused a plague that left Smith’s character the lone survivor among a mutated mob in the city.

...says THIS ARTICLE in Variety.

I can see this kinda/sorta/maybe working as a tense, dizzying, end-of-the-world-as-seen-from NYC thriller. We already know what happens to Neville, which might make our journey all the more unnerving. Or, maybe the whole thing will be really fucking depressing because we know there's... like...no hope.

Personally, I think they chickened out not going with the film's original ending (aka the "alternate" ending you can see on the DVDs and Blu-Rays). Its bitch slap would've brought the movie much more resonance. If you haven't seen it, here it is (the rest of the film leading up to it is pretty much the same, if not identical):

Wonder if they'll bring back Emma Thompson as the virus lady (not to be confused with my slutty ex wife) ?

Commence title creation!