I Am Legend Coming Summer 2007 (Will Smith)
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I Am Legend Coming Summer 2007 (Will Smith)
I read the book today and it was pretty good. I liked Constantine, so I have no problem with Francis Lawrence as the director, but I can not really see Will Smith as Robert Neville. The obvious differences aside (white, blond, English), I just do not see Will Smith as the drinking, smoking character of Robert Neville. I would have liked to see someone like Tom Jane in the lead role. I will still give it a chance, because it is a vampire movie.
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=14381
Source: Variety May 4, 2006
Will Smith is looking to start work this summer on the Francis Lawrence-directed I Am Legend, a move that would give Warner Bros. Pictures a big summer 2007 tentpole, says Variety. The film originally wasn't supposed to get under way until early next year.
The move would amount to a slot swap with Tonight, He Comes, in which Smith was slated to star this summer. Gabriele Muccino took over the helm of that pic after Jonathan Mostow dropped out. Since Muccino is editing Smith starrer The Pursuit of Happyness for a Sony release in December, the studio pushed its superhero-in-existential-crisis pic until next year.
In I Am Legend, based on the Richard Matheson book, Smith plays the last living man on Earth... but he is not alone. Every other man, woman, and child has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for his blood.
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=14381
Source: Variety May 4, 2006
Will Smith is looking to start work this summer on the Francis Lawrence-directed I Am Legend, a move that would give Warner Bros. Pictures a big summer 2007 tentpole, says Variety. The film originally wasn't supposed to get under way until early next year.
The move would amount to a slot swap with Tonight, He Comes, in which Smith was slated to star this summer. Gabriele Muccino took over the helm of that pic after Jonathan Mostow dropped out. Since Muccino is editing Smith starrer The Pursuit of Happyness for a Sony release in December, the studio pushed its superhero-in-existential-crisis pic until next year.
In I Am Legend, based on the Richard Matheson book, Smith plays the last living man on Earth... but he is not alone. Every other man, woman, and child has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for his blood.
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I have been waiting for a new adaptation of I Am Legend and now I just can not care. I do not dislike Will Smith, but I can not see him in the role and I am afraid the movie will end up being all action, not substance.
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Originally Posted by fmian
To be brutally honest with you I'd rather see Tom Cruise in the role.
It's nice to finally see this get off the ground though. I remember years and years ago when Arnold was attached to it.
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Originally Posted by fmian
To be brutally honest with you I'd rather see Tom Cruise in the role.
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Will Smith is a fine actor. However, everything about this news very much worries me. I disliked most of Constantine. I wasn't overly impressed with much of Mark Protosevich's script for I Am Legend (at least the one online that is credited to him). From what I read, it seems that Warner wants Lawrence to "not fix what isn't broke", and turn out a predictable, sterile flick to meet a summer opening date. I have a nasty image of Will Smith fighting hastily-rendered CGI vampires while cracking wise. It is difficult to imagine Smith as the gruff, hardened, unkempt man of the novel.
Even worse, I'd hate them to just use elements from the story and use it to support a humdrum thriller, much like Fox's non-adaptation of I, Robot.
The results will be interesting. I really hope that the film is good, but too many things are already jumping out at me and saying "no". Must withhold judgment though... good luck, Francis Lawrence, may you make a good film.
It's already been filmed twice, and has inspired so many more films. I think it works so well as a book and would make a great film.
Too close to his role in War Of The Worlds, I'd say. Not at first glance, I know...
Even worse, I'd hate them to just use elements from the story and use it to support a humdrum thriller, much like Fox's non-adaptation of I, Robot.
The results will be interesting. I really hope that the film is good, but too many things are already jumping out at me and saying "no". Must withhold judgment though... good luck, Francis Lawrence, may you make a good film.
Originally Posted by mifuneral
I really didn't want this to be turned into a movie.
Originally Posted by fmian
To be brutally honest with you I'd rather see Tom Cruise in the role.
#17
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Originally Posted by Thrush
Neville in the book was a big burly guy. A man's man. I think Cruise would be just as bad a choice as Smith. Not excited about the director either.
I don't know anything about the story except that it's like the Omega Man with Heston and the script has been floating around for ages. From what I've heard it sounds like quite an ambitious movie, and Cruise is better suited to that than Smith.
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Originally Posted by fmian
I don't know anything about the story except that it's like the Omega Man with Heston and the script has been floating around for ages.
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<- Sick To Friggin Death Of Will Smith.
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Originally Posted by Cygnet74
first to post "Aww Hell Naw!!!"!
That annoying kinda shit from Smith in his movies is precisely what I hate about him, and apparently what the unwashed masses love about him.
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Originally Posted by Thrush
Neville in the book was a big burly guy. A man's man. I think Cruise would be just as bad a choice as Smith. Not excited about the director either.
Smith is just a bad choice. They'll probably change the ending,
Spoiler:
A few guys I would've liked to have seen in the role are Jake Weber, Liam Neeson, or Russell Crowe
#22
Well i have been looking forward to this movie for some time...but hearing that Will Smith is going to be playing Neville has disappointed me. I remember hearing about Arnold and Rdiley teaming up for this and that got me excited. You need some kind of kick arse personality to play Neville.....just like Charlton Heston played him in the Omega Man. The book was enjoyable...but it was short and didn't have much too it. A movie version could vastly improve upon the book. I think Viggo Mortenson would be an interesting choice. I also think that maybe even someone like Bruce Willis could play it well...he seems to play battered and bruised pretty good.
Also with regards to the whole vampire aspect...in the book they were not really vampires. The virus had changed them and they hated Neville becuase he was different....he was how they used to be and they were jealous....so they wanted to kill him as he did not fit in with the new nocturnal way and the changes that the they had received from the virus.
Also with regards to the whole vampire aspect...in the book they were not really vampires. The virus had changed them and they hated Neville becuase he was different....he was how they used to be and they were jealous....so they wanted to kill him as he did not fit in with the new nocturnal way and the changes that the they had received from the virus.
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Originally Posted by roger_d
This sounds like a remake of "Last man on Eartgh" *ing Vincent Price. Only difference is see is the vampire twist.