Genre: Horror/Action.
Studio:
Warner Brothers.
Production Company:
Scott Free Productions.
Project Phase: Development Hell.
Who's In It:
Arnold Schwarzenegger is still linked to this project, but another source tells us Kurt Russell is being considered for
the second attempt to get this puppy-dog made.
Who's Making It:
Rob Bowman (Director); Mark Protosevich, Neal Jimenez (Screenwriters); Neal Moritz, David Heyman,
Chris Zarpas, Ridley Scott (Producers); based upon the Richard Matheson novel I Am Legend.
Premise: Every night is the same for the last man on Earth. During the day he may venture out from his soundproofed, barricaded house for supplies - unless it's overcast. He'll conduct his daily task of repairing the previous night's damage. And he always tends to his garden, carefully cultivating his only source of fresh garlic bulbs. When night falls, he makes himself dinner, pours himself the first drink of the long evening, and perhaps plays one of his favorite records. He tries to drown out the muffled noises from the street, and he dare not look. The last time he did that, it was almost his last night alive.
Outside, the vampires fling their curses and stones at the little surburban home, kept at bay by crucifixes and swathes of garlic. They can afford to wait; perhaps another week, maybe one more month before he will make his final, fatal mistake. Yes, soon the last man on Earth will be nothing more but a legend.
Planned Release Date: Unknown.
Comments: Adapted for the silver screen twice before (as 1964's The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price, and 1971's The Omega Man starring Charlton Heston), this is the work that novelist Stephen King hails as the most influential book he's ever read. (And we think it's pretty damn cool too.)
If done properly, it would make a truly atmospheric horror film with many memorable scenes. The start of the book screams to be done on the big screen: the lead character is out gathering supplies during the safe hours of the daytime. On this particular scouting mission, he off-handedly checks his watch, then stops in his tracks. He checks his watch again - the watch still reads the same time it did a few hours ago. As he flees back to the safety of his house, pushing his car to its top speed, racing down deserted city streets, the final rays of sunlight bleach out from the sky. And before he can reach the safety of his fortified bunker the vampires emerge from their homes. The tone is frightengly clear: the consequences of what was once simply another average, daily event (your watch battery dying out) can result in a brutal violent death. This is the genius of Matheson's book; what was taken as typical and safe has become frightening and deadly. Neighbors you knew for years now seek to feed upon you. Supplies are dwindling. And there appears to be no other remaining human being left in the world...
Developments:
Early July, 1998... Fresh from directing The X-Files, Rob Bowman is now poised to take control of this vehicle.
March, 1998...< Amid rumors of a swelling budget, industry trade magazines report the plug has been pulled on this project.
Early July, 1997... Ridley Scott officially commits to direct the project.
February, 1997... The latest screenwriter to take a swing at the story has now been handed the lucrative task of developing Batman's fifth adventure. Mark Protosevich will write Batman 5.
Rumors: A draft penned by Tracy Torme (son of crooner Mel Torme) was done in the early 90s; nothing seems to have come of it.
Scoop Feedback:
January 22, 1997... Previous rumors had Tom Cruise scoping out the role; now it seems that Arnold Schwarzenegger and/or Mel Gibson are interested in staking their claim on it. [Scoop reported by 'widgett', 'SF-Duff', 'Dr. Dre', 'stevec', and anonymously.]
June 3-7, 1997... Variety reported it on the 6th, beating us to the punch even though we were sent word of it on the 3rd (we were waiting for something very special which arrived late...see below.) Inside sources report that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ridley Scott are in talks to bring the current draft of I Am Legend to the silver screen.
According to our source, Scott has already met with top CAA execs and approved that this will be his next project. This is very bad news for the other project Scott was rumored to be on, RKO 281.
[Developments broke by 'Lumiere'.]
Since the news arrived in CA's mailbox, others have heard that the vampire aspect may be dropped from the new version. Production may begin in September. Previously, Tom Cruise and Michael Douglas were linked to this new version adapted from the Richard Matheson novel, but word is that Warners wants Arnold for this project.
[ Additional reporting done by 'widgett', Joe Hanna, Christian, 'FraggleMom', 'Saint Dogbert', and anonymously.]
Readers familiar with Matheson's novel may be puzzled by the involvement of Schwarzenegger, but it makes sense to us now...since we've read the script.
Keeping in mind that we will not divulge plot details of the script, we can try to shed some light on why a mega-action star would be cast as the lead character of this gothic urban horror. Protosevich has adapted Matheson's novel (written in the 1950's) and given it a late twentieth century spin: set four years after the first appearance of the 'vampires', they are now called Hemocytes, and have come about as the result of an unforseen biological disaster. The Hemocytes have formed a tribal-like society around the remains of San Francisco: they each have their own markings, jewelry and a 'tribe' marking that designates their clan affiliation. Protosevich makes a note to the reader when the Hemocytes are introduced, pointing out that these creatures, while they appear to look like traditional vampires, are something else entirely new. In the script they have a commanding, fearful presence, made even more disturbing by Protosevich's usage of italics to illustrate their disturbing voices.
The script's storyline roughly follows the novel's, where Neville tries to survive and hunt down the creatures during the day, while at night his fortified shelter is surrounded and he is taunted by the Hemocytes. Flashbacks reveal how the biological plague began, and Neville's involvement with it; the loss of his family; and the collapse of human civilization. Additionally, the novel's mystery sub-plot (Neville's scientific search for the cause of the plague) has been removed. All the book's main supporting characters still remain, as well as introducing some new players to the game. Cortman, the leader of the Hemocytes that attack Neville, now has two lieutenants serving in his 'army', Christopher and Eva.
However, it's about two-thirds of the way through the script that it begins to make a substantial departure from the original, focusing more on explosions and battle than what was in the book. Now there is a greater emphasis on what could be called 'traditional action sequences' movie-goers come to expect in Schwarzenegger films.
Cortman's role has also changed somewhat. While he still was the leader of the pack that surrounded Neville's home at night, in the book Cortman acted more like a deranged, feral animal. Now he has been given a far more sadistic persona and a larger agenda, making him a far more dangerous villain than he was in the book. Although never fully addressed in the novel, the script delves into how the Hemocytes survive on the dwindling supply of fresh blood, and in a interesting segment, deals with how the plague has affected the other animal species on the planet.
Overall, this version is the closest adaptation to Matheson's book yet, and expands upon the protagnonist's constant battle to survive. But because of that artistic decision, some of the book's philosophical undercurrents have been lost and/or replaced. While it doesn't equal what Matheson achieved in his book almost fifty years ago, it does create the same air of dread and fear the original had when the sun goes down... [Special thanks to an anonymous source.]
June 10, 1997... ZENtertainment reports that Schwarzenegger stands to make as much as...$48 million dollars for starring in this vehicle. [Forwarded by 'widgett'; originally appeared in ZENtertainment.] July 3, 1997... Ridley Scott has inked a deal to direct the film. Under his Scott Free film production company, shooting is scheduled to commence in September. Arnold Schwarzenegger is in the final stages of completing his deal to star in the picture. Industry analysts expect Arnie to sign on the dotted line after the American Independence Day long weekend. [Scoops sent in by 'cnlasher', Christian and an anonymous individual.]
August 19, 1997... This anonymous scooper reports that the plan is to start shooting I Am Legend this coming November in Los Angeles. The scooper also reports that Schwarzenegger will star in the vehicle, even though his confirmation did not arrive last month as expected. They also mention two new producers, director Scott and Chris Zarpas, and that the screenplay credits will include Tracy Torme along with Protosevich. Interesting...but accurate? The information the scooper gave about other projects mentioned in their emails turned out to be true. [Sent in by 'DeMzaLF'.]
August 26, 1997... We're told that John Logan has been brought in to re-write Protosevich's version of the script. [Scooped by 'Compukiller'.]
September 9, 1997... "It's official, Schwarzenegger is committed to the project. It was reported in this months issue of 'Cinescape'." As much as the fellas over at that magazine work hard to do their first-rate job, it ain't so just yet. Schwarzenegger is still considering I Am Legend. Nothing's been signed in ink just yet, kiddo. [Sent to us by Mike Smith, a regular contributor and all-around nice guy.]
October 13, 1997... Word is someone saw Ridley Scott hunting around Houston, TX, looking at film locations for the movie, and Arnold was on hand as well. True? [Submitted by 'Launch13'.]
November 16, 1997... We're told Ridley Scott is thinking of dumping the project if some make-up tests don't go well. With filming scheduled to start in Feburary, that wouldn't be a good thing for the production. [Submitted anonymously.]
November 27 - December 3, 1997... Anonymous scoopers have told us WB pulled the plug on this project last week, just before the holiday. Citing a ballooning budget (including Schwarzenegger's pay-or-play contract) and unknown doubts over the script, we're told the project is, like Cortman and his gang standing outside Neville's house at night, dead dead dead. [Submitted anonymously.]
December 7, 1997... Variety runs an article the day ours appears, except theirs claims that the show is undergoing budget re-sizing in an effort to keep the project afloat. Rumors place the current budget at $108 million, with Warners seeking to bring it down to $90 mil. In addition to these scoops, we're told by 'Omega Man' "The film is definetly NOT dead. I just spoke with someone in the production office yesterday. It is true that the studio has not greenlighted the project, they should be making their decision around the end of the year and there is still an art department open." We hope it's true. [Blood-sucking thanks to 'Omega Man', Joe Hanna, anonymous, Christian, 'dcase', Dave Gould.]
December 9, 1997... More anonymous news. Supposedly, Warner Brothers is tentative about committing themselves to the flick. In their minds (and according to our scooper), any movie with only one central character is a risk, even with Arnold supporting the picture. Warner Brothers is also rumored to be nervous about doing such a large budgeted vampire movie, as they feel the audience for vamp flics has died down since From Dusk Till Dawn debuted almost two years ago. [Anonymous.]
February 10, 1998... Numerous scoopers have told us money matters have been ironed out with Arnold and Ridley, and the picture is expected to start shooting in L.A. in March. [Thanks to 'harmless'.]
February 14, 1998... Further evidence to support the April start date for the picture from two scoopers:
"I have a good friend who has crewed a few James Cameron productions. This pal has it on good authority that Cameron has 'a good story idea' for a sequel to True Lies, and that he is most interested in doing that film next more than any other.
"My friend also says that shooting will be some time off in the future, perhaps in late '98 or early '99 because 'Arnold has a film to shoot in April.' That seems to concord with the news CA just published regarding I Am Legend." [Your cruise director has been 'Bear the Bear'.]
"Recent issue of the trendy FACE magazine featured couple of CGI artists. Well, they claimed to be working on Ridley Scott's film called I Am Legend. Quote: 'Together these men are creating for I Am Legend, Ridley Scott's forthcoming futuristic horror remake about the last man on earth. Hideous Satanic creatures and twisted worlds are promised in a bid to create a universe that outdoes Scott's previous sci-fi tours-de-force, Alien and Blade Runner. It's due in 1999...' If you are wondering the names of these blokes are Craig Penn and Tim Zaccheo (used to work in a London based SFX firm called The Mill, the article doesn't mention if that's the company that makes the effects for Scott's film)." [Thanks to 'shrine' for the vampire alert.]
March 15, 1998... Last week Hollywood Reporter said the project had been officially scrapped. Reasons given were an escalating budget that remained difficult to bring down in the end. Protosevich's script was being re-written by Neal Jimenez (The Waterdance) at the time of the cancellation. [Thanks to 'Mr. Orange' and anonymous; originally appeared in The Hollywood Reporter.]
July 7, 1998... For almost four months this project was as dead as the Hemocytes themselves but now life seems to be returning to it. On July 1st The Hollywood Reporter ran a story that director Rob Bowman (The X-Files) is now about to climb on-board the film in the hopes of raising its bloated carcass and rejuvenating it. Whispered rumors say that the plan is to still bring the film's Schwarzenegger-sized budget ($120 million at least) down a few notches (say, $70 million). Can Bowman be the one that gets the picture made? [Stakes carved by Joe Hanna, 'aloadofthis', 'Kavalyr', 'cpa', anonymous.]
Then a very strange thing happened: a well-known source of CA reported something was definitely up with I Am Legend. Our mysterious friend said that WB was definitely re-considering their plans for this project. Although the scooper couldn't name names within the company, some upper-level people were playing around with who could be "good" for their production. Bowman wasn't one of the players mentioned that the scooper saw, but when THR broke the news about that development, the scooper immediately heard one other name WB people were "imagining" in the project at the foot of the office door: none other than Kurt Russell.
Internet movie sites first broke the rumors about Russell being either considered, approached or offered the cape in the next Batman movie. Those rumors were then picked up by the more-conventional media outlets, such as radio and TV entertainment programs, and then by the newspapers. Before long there was a firestorm of controversy about the 'casting' of Russell as the next Batman. We here at CA took those rumors with a heavy dose of salt, recalling the just-as-immsense fan-casting of Clint Eastwood as an older Batman a la Frank Miller's now-classic Batman: The Dark Knight Returns mini-series from the '80s.
But a little less than two weeks ago a trusted mole within the Warners vast empire told us that there was indeed talk under the water cooler of Russell in the role. It remained unknown if he was the only actor being considered or just one of a select number, and perhaps it was nothing more than a different form of 'fan-casting', albeit by executive Warners. Hey, they've gotta have something to talk about walking down the hallways, we figure...
But now comes the report that Russell is being considered for the role of Neville in Bowman's take on I Am Legend. After conversing with our source some more about the original report, and after some further late-night digging on their part, they found out it may be part of a deal the studio is considering offering (or already has offered?) Russell: play the Neville character in I Am Legend and let's see how it does at the box office...and if it does well enough to reduce the nightmares WB staffers still have about the Batman and Robin mishap, then they'd be a lot more willing to open the purse-strings for a fifth Batman film...and this time, with their new Batman.
Would the original hesitation at WB to greenlight a Schwarzenegger IAL -- even with such an accomplished and hailed director as Ridley Scott -- be due to the previous Schwarzenegger Bat-bomb? Could that really have been the deciding factor that killed the first attempt? And is the reason we're hearing reports of Rob Bowman stepping on board the project due to some kind of secret deal the studio may be working on with Russell? And also, consider this: Schwarzenegger's committed to starring in End of Days...which further supports our scooper's notion that he's not associated with this project anymore, especially if Bowman's warming up to the directing chores.
All we'd like to say is that since first hearing about the Russell rumor from our source, we can't imagine a better modern-day Neville...
[Thanks to our anonymous source for accepting the long distance charges.]
And finally, one small plea we'd like to make to the significant other of someone who's name is listed under the credits for this film: we'd love to talk with your man as you suggested...but can you give us that all-important contact address? Email, phone, fax, whatever is fine...our psychic operator has been taken out this week by a bad flu bug making the rounds, so we can't conduct psychometry on the email you sent...
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