I Am Legend sequel will be inspired by The Last of Us, says writer

If you thought the wait for Avatar: The Way of Water was long, the wait for I Am Legend 2 is even longer. Will Smith’s post-apocalyptic classic was released all the way back in 2007 and while whispers of a potential sequel have been around for quite some time, writer Akiva Goldsman has confirmed the film is now in active development.

Last year, it was reported that Smith had expressed interest in returning for a sequel, with Creed and Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan also thought to be joining the project. Goldsman recently opened up about where the sequel would pick up, adding that he’s been majorly inspired by another post-apocalyptic project - The Last of Us.

Excited for The Last of Us’ upcoming episode? Take a look at the promo for ‘Kin’ below.

In an interview with Deadline, Goldsman explained that the sequel would “start a few decades later than the first,” exploring the after effects of the film’s alternate ending. In the original theatrical ending, Neville blows both himself and the hemocytes up with a grenade but in a later alternative version, he discovers their sentience after learning that their leader is just trying to retrieve his mate. Clearly, it’s much easier to make a sequel when your main character is still alive so you can see why they’re opting to continue the latter.

Goldsman added, “I’m obsessed with The Last of Us, where we see the world just post-apocalypse but also after a 20 [to] 30-year lapse. You see how the earth reclaims the world, and there’s something beautiful in the question of, as man steps away from being the primary tenant, what happens? That will be especially visual in New York. I don’t know if they’ll climb up to the Empire State building, but the possibilities are endless."

The Last of Us has proved to be a major hit for HBO with its viewership growing by the week. The latest episode, ‘Endure and Survive’ is the season’s highest-rated by a large margin. It’s no surprise that other post-apocalyptic projects are taking note.