The Potential Literary Direction of I Am Legend 2 Poses a Threat to the Darkseekers

I Am Legend • Will Smith • Dr. Robert Neville • Michael B. Jordan • Francis Lawrence: To maintain the integrity of I Am Legend's storyline, the sequel, I Am Legend 2, faces a challenging predicament when it comes to the depiction of the Darkseekers. Diverging from Richard Matheson's original I Am Legend novel, the first film adhered to a well-worn narrative, with Will Smith's character, Dr. Neville, undertaking the mission to rescue humanity from a devastating pandemic. Despite its predictability, the movie's broad appeal was attributable to its thrilling action sequences, the haunting portrayal of a desolate New York City, and Will Smith's remarkable performance.

I Am Legend initially presented an ending that resulted in Dr. Neville's demise, but it later released an alternate ending where Neville survives. This twist not only paved the way for a potential sequel but also brought the film closer to its source material. While it's commendable that I Am Legend 2 will incorporate the revised ending from the first installment, resurrecting Dr. Neville, it brings forth a conundrum concerning the Darkseekers.

In the I Am Legend movie, the central Darkseekers are not quite zombies. There are scenes in the film where these creatures exhibit intelligence, even outsmarting Dr. Neville by setting elaborate traps throughout the city. Furthermore, the film suggests that, although they aggressively attack humans and animals, their primary craving is for blood. Nevertheless, despite these distinctions from the stereotypical cinematic zombies, I Am Legend fell victim to the zombie trend of the late 2000s, leading many to assume that its central creatures were, in fact, zombies. This interpretation diverged significantly from Richard Matheson's original portrayal of the Darkseekers in his novel.

Matheson's original I Am Legend novel unequivocally depicted the Darkseekers as bloodthirsty vampires. Unlike the film, the book embraced their association with classic vampire lore, revealing that, like traditional vampires, the Darkseekers were susceptible to sunlight, could be repelled by garlic and mirrors, and were vulnerable to wooden stakes through the heart.

In summary, while I Am Legend 2's adherence to the altered ending of its predecessor may appeal to purists of the source material, it presents challenges in maintaining consistency with the depiction of the Darkseekers. The original movie, although not quite portraying them as zombies, deviated significantly from Matheson's vampire-centric vision. Balancing these divergent interpretations will be a crucial aspect of crafting a compelling sequel that honors both the film's legacy and the novel's literary roots.