EXCEPTIONAL: Warner Bros. raises the stakes of its I Am Legend franchise to a stratospheric level. For its next chapter, the studio returns not only the original star Will Smith, but also Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan in what will present the duo’s first major film together as stars and producers.
Talk about bringing together two big stars: Smith and Jordan’s films together grossed $ 12.3 billion worldwide.
The details of the plot, of course, are kept secret.
Akiva Goldsman AP
Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman, who adapted Richard Mathison’s 1954 novel for the original 2007 film, is also returning to write the sequel and produce.
All these deals have been completed, I understand, but there is no director attached, as the project is still under development. Francis Lawrence directed the original I Am Legend.
Jordan and Elizabeth Raposo produce through the banner of the Outlier Society. Smith and Westbrook Studios co-chair / Motion Pictures head John Maun will produce the project and Ryan Shimazaki will oversee on behalf of Westbrook Studios. James Lassiter will serve as the EP. Goldsman and Greg Lesans will also produce through Weed Road Pictures.
“I’m a Legend,” starring Smith in nearly deserted post-apocalyptic New York among zombies, grossed $ 77.2 million in the United States in early December, earning $ 256.4 million nationwide and $ 585.4 million worldwide. scale.
The big news for Smith comes after the Oscar nomination for Best Actor and Best Picture for King Richard, as well as winning the Best Actor Award at the SAG and NAACP Image Awards. The film garnered a total of six Oscar nominations.
The Outlier Society is also in development with Warner Bros. for Static Shock, a live adaptation of the revolutionary DC Comics series written by Randy McKinnon and with Reginald Hudlin, also co-produced with Outlier. the company is in production of Creed III at MGM / UAR, with Jordan directing and playing the role of Adonis Creed. The premiere of the film is scheduled for November 23.
Other film projects on the upcoming Outlier Society list include Amazon Studios’ adaptation of the novel You Made a Fool of Death with its Akwaeke Emezi beauty and MGM’s The Thomas Crown Affair by Wes Tooke. Outlier’s upcoming television projects include Amazon Studios’ Victories Greater Than Death, The Broken Earth and Mohammed Ali’s The Greatest series.
Will Smith in “I’m a Legend” (2007) collection by Everett
Westbrook Studios’ film projects include King Richard, based on the life of Richard Williams, the father of tennis great Serena and Venus, and the upcoming high-profile Emancipation projects, which were sold to Apple TV + in the biggest film festival deal in history; the Redd Zone sports drama, starring Jada Pinkett Smith on Netflix and based on the true story of Tia Maggie and her sons; the hip-hop music film Summertime, based on the hit song by Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff for Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems; Clean Air, a joint project of Westbrook, NASCAR and Chainsmokers; the action thriller Fast & Loose, starring Smith and directed by David Leach; and The Soul Superhero, a live-fiction musical with a screenplay co-written by Kwame Kwei-Armah and songwriter and producer Freddy Wexler and based on an original Wexler story.
Weed Road Pictures is a production company founded by producer, director and Oscar Goldsman winner. Weed Road has produced both critically acclaimed and commercially successful film titles, including Deep Blue Sea, Constantine, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, I Am Legend, Hancock, Fair Game, Lone Survivor and Without Remorse. Upcoming films include Brilliance starring Smith; Major Matt Mason, starring Tom Hanks; The Billions of Dollars Spy, directed by Ama Asante; Firestarter, directed by Keith Thomas; Flight, directed by Johannes Roberts; Caster, adaptation of the book YA by Elsie Chapman; Back to the Outback, an animated comedy for Netflix; and Meet Cute starring Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson. TV titles include Titans, which is co-produced by Berlanti Productions and DC Entertainment; Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds for CBS All Access; The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, based on the novel by Michael Chabon, won the Pulitzer Prize; Gormenghast based on the books of Mervyn Peak; Havenfall based on a novel by Sarah Holland; and Crowded Room, an anthology of Apple starring Tom Holland.
Jordan and the Outlier Society are represented by M88, WME and Gregory Slewett. Smith is represented by the CAA. Goldsman is represented by the CAA and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kahler, Gelman, Meigs and Fox.
Smith turned to the project shortly after the deadline article: