According to BlackFilm.com the long anticipated, on-again-off-again film adaptation of Richard Matheson’s story “I Am Legend” will finally make its appearance on the big screen, with shooting to begin this coming September.
Director Francis Lawrence now has his dream team in Will Smith and Johnny Depp. Lawrence, who was responsible for the Keanu Reeves film “Constantine” was hoping to get the two hot actors for this project and the fates have smiled on him.
Will Smith will be the lead in this Warner Bros. Production. No official word yet on which role Depp has been cast for, but rumor has it that it may be the part of Smith’s (Robert Neville) next door neighbor, Ben Cortman. If this is true, then Depp will become the first person in the movie to become infected with a rare virus that turns him into a blood-lusting vampire and the initial head of all vampires.
In Richard Matheson’s book, Neville is the last living man on Earth, however, he is not alone. There are plenty of the ‘undead.’ Every man, woman, and child on the planet, with the exception of Neville has become infected and become a vampire, and guess who is they’re main target for dinner? That’s right it’s Will Smith. During the daylight hours Neville hunts his sleeping night stalkers among the ruins of decaying civilization. At night he keeps himself barricaded in his home anticipating the rising of the sun while ever alert for the nightly raids on his house.
If this sounds vaguely familiar, think Vincent Price in “The Last Man On Earth” and Charlton Heston from “The Omega Man.” Both of those films were loosely based on Matheson’s “I Am Legend.”
** LATEST “LEGEND” UPDATE ** 07-04-06
JoBlo.com is reporting that Depp will actually be playing a fellow survivor that Smith’s character finds named Philip. A production source revealed that Depp would NOT be playing the role of Cortman/main villian in the film. Apparently that character (from Mark Protosevich’s script) has been excised completely.
That’s too bad. I was really looking forward for a villainous and devious Depp performance in this one.
What’s the bet the ending will be changed to a ‘riding off into the sunset’ thing rather like the script that has been floating around on the net for years? Will Smith becomes the enemy to the norm and then die ? I don’t think so!
“Every man, woman, and child on the planet, with the exception of Neville has become infected and become a vampire, and guess who is they’re main target for dinner? That’s right. It’s Will Smith.”
Hell, I’D eat Will Smith for dinner!!! And Johnny Depp for dessert.
I’m just sayin’…
Just the thought of Will Smith and Johnny Depp in the same movie is causing me a great deal of…Tinglepation.