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Will Smith to star in Legend Adaptation
Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on April 27, 2006
One of the greatest books I have never been able to put down is Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend. Some consider Matheson to be the father of the literary sci-fi / horror genre in the 20th century. The legendary Ray Bradbury once called Matheson “one of the most important writers of the 20th century,†and Steven King once said that Matheson is the “author who influenced me most as a writer.†Even the more contemporary Dean Koontz proclaimed that “We’re all a lot richer to have Richard Matheson among us.†With all that being said, lets move on to the point.
The novel is about a man who is the only living person left on earth who wasn’t wiped out by a deadly virus. The virus’ post-mortem symptoms proved to be much more horrifying than the symptoms of the living. Those who were killed by the virus, which is everyone except for the protagonist Robert Neville, come back to life as vampires that stalk the night. Sounds a bit cheesy, but the idea is not your traditional view of vampires. The story is mostly about the protagonist and how he copes with boredom, loneliness, alcoholism and survival. He spends the rest of his days looking for a cure or signs of life other than himself.
The novel is amazing and I highly recommend picking it up, it’s a very easy read and has a much deeper message hidden in its plot than you’d think. The film adaptation of I am Legend will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and is due out some time in 2007. Will Smith is the man who has been rumored as the lead. I have one fear, much like anyone who loves a literary work that will be translated onto film, that it will suck. The book is about solitude and coping with inner demons. Ever seen Cast Away? Think Cast Away with vampires on the island instead of Wilson. Will Smith is good, but I don’t know if he can command that type of screen presence or acting prowess. Hollywood is sure to doll up the plot for the screen, but in the process may miss out on the meaning of the story.
Technorati Tags: Will Smith, Celebrity, Richard Matheson, Books, Movies, Movie Buzz
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10 Comments
April 27th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
Will Smith is the biggest step-n-fetch-it since well, step-n-fetch-it. Hollywood is ok with Mr. Smith because he is so nice and cuddly to white america, they still see him as the fresh prince, and he does nothing to shed this image. Why not give the role to Don Cheaddle a real actor who could convincingly pull this off, or Danny Glover. Anyone whos seen both versions of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ will see that Danny Glover does a far better job than Sidney Poitier. Danny Glover is one of the greatest actors of our generation but no one gets to see because he’s usually cast as a white guys sidekick i.e. Sgt. Murtaugh. “Riggs!!”
April 27th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Big O,
You really do have a talent for making things about race… You are saying that Will Smith isn’t a black actor? You are saying that he sold out to white people in order to be popular? Am I getting that right?
Come on man, Smith is a good actor. Not a great actor, but he is entertaining and he is someone that all races can enjoy watching on screen. And by the way, Danny Glover was good, but he is old…
April 27th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
What does age have to do with it?? “You really do have a talent for making things about race… ” being black in America kinda has that effect. Being called a minority all ones life kinda breeds that. Will Smith is a black actor, (don’t even know why I’m dignifying that with an answer but……) let’s just say southpark had him pegged. Smith is a decent actor for films like M.I.B. or the one with him and Hackman, but doing a movie like Bagger Vance (oh yes massa Damon, I’s gon get yo golf clubs as fas as I cans, don’t you worry), gets your card revoked immediatly. Also he single handedly ruined a movie about one of the greatest American heros to ever live, Ali.
April 27th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Wow, well… I don’t necessarily agree, but we can agree on one thing: The Legend of Bagger Vance was a terrible movie.
Ali, on the other hand, was good. But you can hate it all you want, I’m not going to stop you.
April 28th, 2006 at 5:12 am
Just to remind you, if you didn’t already know…Smith was revered for his role in Six Degrees of Separation. Which came out around the same time (1993) as Fresh Prince was blossoming into a hit…And there is no way you can call that role a “token role” big O
April 28th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Nope your right, that was not a token role, that was a good role and he did a great job, so what happened???? Did he just lose his hunger???
April 28th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Maybe his hunger turned into $$ signs…Cant blame him though
June 8th, 2007 at 4:51 am
[…] own Brian Gibson reported last April that Will Smith would be starring in I Am Legend, the highly anticipated adaptation of Richard […]
June 9th, 2007 at 1:22 am
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December 13th, 2007 at 3:23 am
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