Summary
I Am Legend 2is happening nearly 20 years after the original movie premiered in theaters, and this significant time gap presents the unique challenge of finding a director who can navigate crafting a sequel and resurrecting a franchise. The task requires someone who can honor the source material while adding a fresh voice, but firm updates have been scarce since the Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan project was first announced.
The originalI Am Legendmovie grossed $585.4 million at the box office (viaBoxOfficeMojo), but received mixed responses from critics and audiences, and was criticized for deviating from Richard Matheson’s book.I Am Legend 2’s storywill also retcon the previous movie’s ending in order to accommodate Will Smith’s return, giving the sequel plenty of challenges to overcome. A new update revealsI Am Legend 2is reportedly eyeing Steven Caple Jr.to direct, and this is positive news for the upcomingWill Smith sci-fi movie.
I Am Legend’s Alternate Ending Explained: What Happens & Why It Was Cut
The alternate ending to I Am Legend is considered better than the divisive original - so much so that it’s the version I Am Legend 2 will follow.
I Am Legend 2 Would Be In Good Hands With Creed II’s Director, Steven Caple Jr.
Caple Jr. Knows How To Direct A Sequel
Steven Caple Jr. has a history of stepping in to direct sequels within massive franchises after previously helmingCreed IIandTransformers: Rise of the Beasts. He faced a formidable task following Ryan Coogler afterCreedwas universally praised and revived theRockyfranchise, butCaple Jr. managed to create a crowd-pleaser that lived up to its predecessor withCreed II. WhereasCreedhad to balance Adonis' story with Rocky’s legacy,Creed IIsuccessfully pivoted to focus on Adonis.
$214.1 million
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
$439 million
Caple Jr. has also proven himself with sci-fi blockbusters. While not as financially successful as some of its predecessors,Transformers: Rise of the Beastsbecame popular once it landed on streaming and boasts a 91% audience score onRotten Tomatoes, showcasing the director’s ability to step into a massive franchise and create a film that audiences enjoy.
This is all very positive news for his potential gig taking onI Am Legend 2. Based upon his previous work, Steven Caple Jr. is the perfect director to continue the spirit of 2007’sI Am Legendmovie while pushing the sequel into a new direction that will excite audiences and invigorate the overall franchise after almost 20 years of gathering dust. Such a crowd-pleasing director might also find a way to overcomeI Am Legend’s controversial book changes.
Steven Caple Jr.’s Movies Balance Humanity & Action
I Am Legend Will Require Someone Who Pays Attention to Characters And Action
As a director, Caple Jr. blends heartfelt human emotions with intense, adrenaline-fueled action sequences.Transformers: Rise of the Beastsput the human characters at the center of saving the world, and even humanized the robots in a way previous entries hadn’t. However, the director did not back away from the heavy action expected from aTransformersmovie.I Am Legendwas essentially a one-man character study, so the sequel will require a director who understands how sci-fi movies flourish when human stories are centered and the action exists to further their story.
InCreed II, Caple Jr. deftly navigated the complex dynamic between Adonis and Viktor Drago, as the personal struggles between those two men brought them to the ring and informed the movie’s action. Caple Jr. can bring those same qualities to the apocalypse survivors inI Am Legend 2’s cast, with the sequel seemingly revolving around the dynamic between Michael B. Jordan’s character and Will Smith’s Dr. Robert Neville.
Given his previous track record, Steven Caple Jr. seems like the ideal person to directI Am Legend 2. His ability to deliver successful sequels, combined with his talent for balancing human drama and thrilling action, will make him a perfect fit for a franchise that demands spectacle and human drama in equal measure.
I Am Legend 2
Cast
I Am Legend 2 is a sequel to the 2007 film that sees Will Smith reprise his role as Dr. Robert Neville. Despite the theatrical release of the original film showing Neville’s demise, the film picks up where the alternate ending left off, with Neville surviving and heading off to spread the cure.
