Will Smith’s I Am Legend Dominates Streaming 18 Years Later – And the Sequel with Michael B. Jordan Is Finally Moving Forward!
Eighteen years after its theatrical release, Will Smith’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece I Am Legend is proving it’s truly legendary, surging back into global streaming charts and landing in the top 10 in multiple countries this December.
The 2007 blockbuster, which cost $150 million to make and grossed over $585 million worldwide, has become a “sleeper hit” all over again on VOD platforms. Fans are rewatching the iconic deserted New York City scenes and Smith’s powerhouse solo performance just as buzz builds for the long-awaited sequel.
Directed by Francis Lawrence, I Am Legend stars Smith as Dr. Robert Neville, a virologist who believes he’s the last uninfected human in a world ravaged by a virus that turned most of humanity into nocturnal mutants (known as Darkseekers). The film’s haunting atmosphere, practical effects, and emotional depth earned it a solid 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences alike praising Smith’s gripping portrayal of isolation and survival.
And now, the legend continues.
I Am Legend 2 is officially in active development at Warner Bros., with Will Smith returning as Neville and Michael B. Jordan joining as co-star and producer. In updates throughout 2025, Smith has shared exciting details: the sequel will follow the film’s alternate ending (the one on the Blu-ray/DVD where Neville survives), ignoring the theatrical sacrifice. It will be set decades later in a overgrown, post-apocalyptic world inspired by The Last of Us, staying closer to Richard Matheson’s original 1954 novel.
Smith has teased that Jordan plays the leader of a new human settlement (not Neville’s son, as some rumors suggested), setting up potential alliances or conflicts in a rebuilt society where the infected may have evolved.
While no official release date has been announced and filming hasn’t started yet, insiders point to a possible late 2026 or 2027 window given the project’s scale. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman is back, and both stars have expressed massive enthusiasm Smith calling Jordan a true “movie star” who’s elevating the script.
As streaming numbers soar this holiday season, one thing is clear: the world isn’t done with Robert Neville. The original’s timeless themes of loneliness, hope, and humanity are hitting harder than ever and I Am Legend 2 could be the epic follow-up fans have waited nearly two decades for.
Read More : Rediscovering ‘I Am Legend’s Alternate Ending: A Closer Look at the Scene and Its Theatrical Counterpart
