Will Smith’s Unwritten Sequel Rule makes the upcoming sci-fi movie even more exciting

Will Smith’s upcoming movie, I am legend 2Will break the actor’s unwritten rule when it comes to sequels and it makes it all the more exciting. Based on Robert Matheson’s novel, I am legend Centers on Dr. Robert Nevulle’s search for a cure after the human race is infected by a zombie virus. Although I am legend Having a controversial ending, the movie garnered mostly positive reviews from both critics and audiences. Seventeen years later I am legend was released, the highly anticipated I am legend 2 With Michael B. Jordan in the cast will finally come to the big screen.

Although Will Smith is mostly known for his action movies, the actor has also appeared in several sci-fi movies including Men in Black, BrightAnd Still earth. Throughout his illustrious acting career, it seems that Smith has an unwritten rule when it comes to making sequels, especially with his sci-fi movies. Although Smith didn’t make a lot of sequels, the ones he did failed to impress audiences and critics.

I Am Legend 2 is a rare sequel in Will Smith’s career

Bright was supposed to have a sequel

Will Smith began his film career in 1992 with Where the day takes you And Meanwhile Has 37 movies in his filmography, But only two have sequels. In 1997, Smith starred in the sci-fi Men in BlackThe first of Smith’s movies to get a sequel. After five years Men in Black Premiere, the second installment in the franchise, Men in Black IIwas released. Smith reprized his role as Agent J for the third and possibly final time in Men in Black 3.

Bad boys is another Will Smith movie that has a sequel. The first Bad boys Movie was released in 2003 and was followed by two movies in the franchise, Bad Boys II And Bad boys for life. Bad Boys ride or die is the latest installment in the franchise. However, most sequels Will Smith did not return for, such as Independence Day: Resurgence, Men in Black: InternationalAnd The Suicide Squad. Similarly, his 2017 action fantasy movie, Brightwas supposed to have a sequel with Smith reprising his role as Daryl Ward, But Netflix canceled the movie after the actor’s 2022 Academy Awards scandal (via What’s on Netflix). so, I Am legend Will be only the third Will Smith movie to get a sequel.

Why doesn’t Will Smith do a lot of sequels

Most of Will Smith’s movies don’t need sequels

There are reasonable explanations why Will Smith has had very few sequels in his long career. Most of the movies that Smith has done are not necessarily IP-based, But standalone movies with a clear beginning, middle and end, so they don’t need a sequel. Had Smith begun his career a decade or two later, he likely would have had more sequels to his name; At the time Smith was rising to stardom, cinematic universes weren’t as common as they are now.

The fact that the Men in Black Sequels not performing as well as the first film, which became a cultural phenomenon, may also have contributed to the actor’s fear when it came to making sequels. Will Smith is also one of the biggest actors in the world, So he has the privilege to choose what projects he wants to do. For example, the Men in Black Actor did not return for Independence Date: Resurgence. Although Smith was open to reprising his role in the movie, he felt that Suicide Squad was a better career choice at the time (by The Economic Times).

What to expect from Will Smith’s I Am Legend 2

I Am Legend 2 will follow the alternate ending of I Am Legend

I am legend 2 Will try to fix one of the most divisive things about I am legend. at the end of I am legendDr. Robert Neville dies by suicide to save the cure. The ending of the first film deviated significantly from Matheson’s book and was so controversial with fans of the author’s work who preferred his version of the story. Given That Dr. Neville dies at the end of I am legend, The question of how Smith will reprise his role has been raised.

In the alternative ending of I Am legendDr. Neville takes the cure and leaves Manhattan. I am legend 2 Is going to stick to the source material and follow the alternate ending of the first movie. The second installment of I am legend Will center around what Dr. Neville did after taking the cure and realizing that the infected gave him a monster for experimenting on one of their own. I am legend 2 is still in pre-production and there has been no official announcement for the release date of the movie.

Sources: What’s on Netflix, The Economic Times