I Am Legend: The Last Man On Earth

Will Smith, the star of such films as Independence Day and Men in Black, is no stranger to science fiction and has long had an affinity for Richard Matheson’s timeless novel I Am Legend from which his new action-thriller of the same title is based. “There are so many genres within it: horror, science fiction, and this wonderful character piece,” the actor says. “The psychology of being the last man on Earth has always intrigued me. The physical, emotional and spiritual lengths that the hero Robert Neville has to go to just to survive present a beautiful opportunity to tell a universal story about the nature of humanity.”

Director Francis Lawrence adds, “The idea of a man surviving cut off and alone in a modern urban environment was fascinating to me and one that I wanted to explore on film. “I Am Legend is the quintessential story of one man against the world, which is one reason why it continues to capture people’s imaginations more than half a century after it was first written.”

Complex and provocative, Matheson’s 1954 novel, widely recognized as a primer for the modern-day horror-science fiction genre, has influenced generations, inspired countless imitators and spawned two prior movie adaptations: 1964’s The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price, and 1971’s The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston.

Screenwriter/producer Akiva Goldsman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of A Beautiful Mind and a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of the author, says that he relished the opportunity to reimagine I Am Legend for the screen. “Richard Matheson is like a god to those of us who are science fiction geeks.”

Goldsman worked from the initial adaptation of the novel by Mark Protosevich, which had been one of the most coveted scripts in recent years.  Protosevich relates, “This has been a passion project of mine for over a decade now, and I was thrilled to finally see it being made, especially with this level of talent on both sides of the camera.”

I Am Legend tells a story almost entirely centered around a man living a solitary existence. The filmmakers knew the demanding role would require a high-caliber actor, and when they learned that Will Smith had an interest in the role, the main element of the project clicked into place. Smith, along with producer James Lassiter, his partner at Overbrook Entertainment, had been keeping tabs on the project’s development over the years. He regarded playing the role of Robert Neville – a character who occupies the screen virtually alone for much of the film – as both a challenge and an opportunity.

Goldsman remarks, “As a writer, I believe in the ability of the written word to describe and generate a character. But, ultimately, what is equally important is the ability to convey what is unspoken. Will is such a fine actor; he delivered an extraordinary performance wherein many of his thoughts and emotions are conveyed through his expressions and behavior.”

Smith had to rely on other forms of expression to portray the emotional range of Neville’s journey. “The process was very different for me because it’s all behavior. It’s just an incredible exercise to not be able to talk yet have to communicate,” he offers. “To have to figure out how to communicate without words – for me, it’s the center of what acting is. When you just go quiet for a while, you start to discover a whole range of things about your character and yourself. It’s a fascinating place to explore, both artistically and psychologically.”

Making his first film with Smith, Francis Lawrence found a sound anchor for the emotional story arc at the heart of the adventure. “What’s fantastic about Will is that he has such a warmth and charisma to him,” notes the director.  “He brings so many dimensions to his role and takes you along with him at every moment. There’s real sympathy for him, you’re scared for him, you laugh with him and you cry with him…and all those layers exist at once in his performance. Most importantly in this role, he is able to convey everything he is going through, both physically and emotionally, often without any dialogue at all.”

Perhaps the greatest compliment to Smith came from the man who first created the character of Robert Neville. “I think Will Smith is the perfect person to portray Robert Neville,” author Richard Matheson states. “I’ve seen almost every film he has made, and he is always totally convincing in whatever role he is playing. In this story, his character is key and, therefore, he is key.”

I Am Legend opens in theaters on Jan. 8.