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I Am Legend was released on December 14, 2007, by Warner Bros. Pictures. Helmed by Francis Lawrence, the film is written by Akiva Goldsman and Mark Protosevich. It's a loose adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1954 namesake novel. Here is the official synopsis as per Letterboxd:
Robert Neville is a scientist who was unable to stop the spread of the terrible virus that was incurable and man-made. Immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City and perhaps the world. For three years, Neville has faithfully sent out daily radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. But he is not alone.
Let's explore both endings of I Am Legend.
What is the plot of I Am Legend?
I Am Legend takes place in New York City at a time when nearly all of humanity has been killed due to a virus that was meant to cure cancer. Some animals have survived on the planet. The story focuses on Neville, who is immune to the virus and is trying to find a cure while fighting the hostile creatures. He is accompanied by his pet German Shepherd dog on the journey.
What are the two endings of I Am Legend?
In the theatrical ending of I Am Legend, we see Neville inside the lab, which the Darkseekers surround. The protagonist finds out that the earlier treatment was a success for the lady. The alpha male from the creature's group starts ramming himself into the lab glass to break it open. Neville takes out a small vial of blood from her and offers it to Anna.
He then pushes Anna and Ethan inside a safe chute, which is at the back of the lab. Neville then unpins a grenade, leading to him and the Darkseekers getting killed. The next day, Ethan and Anna reach the survivor camp that is surrounded by military personnel. She gives them the cure and tells them about Neville's sacrifice.
The director of I Am Legend had a different ending in mind, where Neville kills himself by consuming poison after the creatures capture him. In the original ending, Ethan, Anna, and Neville go to the lab where the alpha Darkseeker unsuccessfully tries to break in. The alpha then draws a butterfly on the glass, which matches the patient's tattoo.
Neville realizes that Darkseekers are actually intelligent beings. He then takes out the IV drop, which quickly turns the patient into a Darkseeker. Neville also returns her to Darkseekers and is apologetic for killing so many of them in pursuit of a cure. Toward the end, all three of them leave New York and move towards Vermont. There is no cure for that virus.
In a 2018 ScreenRant interview, Francis Lawrence said that he preferred the original ending, which stayed true to the book.
"I agree it's the better ending. I mean, it's the more philosophical version of the end, but in terms of story math we're doing everything you're not supposed to do, right? The hero doesn't find the cure, right? They drive off into the unknown and the creatures you've been saying are the bad ones the whole time you learn actually have humanity and aren't the bad ones – the hero's the bad one."
The makers had to go with a safer ending due to negative test screening responses. Which ending of I Am Legend do you prefer?
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