Francis Lawrence's 2007 post-apocalyptic drama "I Am Legend" is based loosely on the celebrated 1954 novel by Richard Matheson. The original novel is set in the near future of 1976 when a destructive war has ravaged the Earth, and a horrible virus has infected the survivors. The virus transforms its victims into pale-skinned, nocturnal ghouls with an appetite for human blood, more or less making them vampires. The novel follows Robert Neville, seemingly the last human alive, as he tries to survive in a ravaged Los Angeles and study the virus during the daylight hours. The title comes from the novel's famous twist ending.
"I Am Legend" was adapted to film in 1964 as "The Last Man on Earth," and in 1971 as "The Omega Man," before Lawrence's 2007 version. Lawrence's version transposes the action to New York and makes Neville (Will Smith) into a surviving virologist attempting to come up with a cure for the vampire virus.
"I Am Legend" was adapted to film in 1964 as "The Last Man on Earth," and in 1971 as "The Omega Man," before Lawrence's 2007 version. Lawrence's version transposes the action to New York and makes Neville (Will Smith) into a surviving virologist attempting to come up with a cure for the vampire virus.
- 5/4/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
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