"I Am Legend" Starring Will Smith???

[nobody]

I know it's not the news site of choice for most of the people here... but AICN reported that another version of "I Am Legend" may be hitting the big screen soon. I was excited to hear that, until I read that Will Smith may be playing the part of Robert Neville. That sounds like a trainwreck to me. Not to mention that AICN also reported that Warner Bros, the studio behind the project, apparently favors a more cheerful ending than the true dismal book ending. What's everyone else think about this news?

[Mr_Vindictive]

The film would be NOTHING without the ending.  For me, the only true Robert Neville was and is Vincent Price.  Heston did a good enough job, but Price will always be the best.

[h.p. love]

Apparently a lot of people are not tired of Will Smith and still go see movies starring him. I am not one of these people.

[Dunners]

Smith isnt bad, he's just over publicized and has been in quite  a few so-so films recently. I think he could pull it off fine as long as they maintain as much of the story as possible.

I dunno the ending was always a little too dismal for me. If they could come up with a 'happy' ending that wasnt reall happy I'd be fine with it.

[Yaddo 42]

Are there developments here, they've been mentioning Smith for this role ever since they quit floating Arnold's name a few years back. I've hoped they would change their minds or he would move on to something else. Few things make me want to see a film less than seeing Smith star in it. I hate that they stick him in so many sci-fi epics, although the first MIB film did play to his strengths, plus they had Tommy Lee Jones to balance out.

If he does star in a film of IAL, I'm dreading there being yet another "Aw, Hell no!" moment which seems to be a catchphrase of his now.

Personally, I've wanted Jean Reno to play the lead in another version of IAL. He's a convincing action hero/tough guy, plus I figure you could get some dark humor out of the last human male on earth being French. My second choice would be Ving Rhames. But neither are as big a "name" as Smith so I'm not holding my breath. At least it's not Tom Cruise.

[AlexB]

Jean Reno would be ideal. I've got nothing against Will Smith, but he's just too chubby and cheerful to be the last man on earth. You'd need somebody more rugged and taciturn, yet with savoir vivre. The kind of man who can appreciate fine wines and handle an assault rifle. In a word, Jean Reno. That being said, Charlton Heston had just the right aquiline features for the role.

[Mr_Vindictive]

Jean Reno.....now that is an interesting choice.  He does have enough of a "quietness" about him to really nail the role.  He'd be a great choice.

[onionhead]

Wil Smith--HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Somebody wake me up.

[trekgeezer]

I can't think of a serious part I could see Will Smith in and can't understand anyone does see him in something like this.

I could see Jean Reno in this part. I liked the Vincent Price version and Heston was his usual bombastic self, but he fit the part the way it was written for his version.