Summary
This year it was announced two of the most notable zombie movies in recent decades are receiving sequels,28 Years LaterandI Am Legend 2,and after these films premiere, there’s a chance that a zombie renaissance will take over the horror scene. Among the slashers and psychological thrillers that make up the horror genre, one beloved subgenre is the zombie movie. Zombies have been done in any number of ways over the course of Hollywood history, but there are certainzombie movies that are the best, and28 Days LaterandI Am Legendare among them.
28 Years Laterwas initially announcedin January 2024. The threequel was a pleasant surprise, as the original film,28 Days Later,premiered back in 2002, and its sequel,28 Weeks Later,in 2007. Reviving the franchise nearly 20 years later was unexpected, but more than welcome by fans.I Am Legend 2’sconfirmationhas a similar story. In March 2022, the sequel starring Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan was announced, 15 years after the first movie. Time aside though,these sequels can not only revive their franchises, but reenergize a classic horror movie subgenre.
Why I Am Legend 2 Has Faced So Much Production Trouble Explained By Original Director
The original 2007 I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence explains why I Am Legend 2 has faced so many troubles getting made over the years.
28 Years Later & I Am Legend 2 Are Hollywood’s Biggest Zombie Movies In Years
Zombie Movies Have Petered Out
The fact that28 Years LaterandI Am Legend 2are releasing around the same time is a major win for the zombie subgenre; unfortunately, zombie movies have seriously dwindled in recent years. Although there have been a few notable hits, such as Netflix’sArmy of the Deadin 2021, the last truly significant zombie movies dropped in 2016–eight years ago. In that year, audiences gotThe Girl with All the Giftsand the iconic South Korean film,Train to Busan.But even then,these films couldn’t compete with the zombie renaissance of the early 2000s.
Although zombie movies are a horror staple, they have faced a definite rise and fall over the years. In the early 2000s, when28 Days LaterandI Am Legendcame out, zombies were at an all-time high. Other zombie hits of the time includeDawn of the DeadandZombieland.The Walking Deadeven fits into this category. However,by 2013, audiences no longer loved zombies like they used toafter releases like action-thrillerWorld War Zand rom-comWarm Bodies. This is what makes28 Years LaterandI Am Legend 2so pivotal.
28 Years Later Is Already Envisioned As A New Trilogy
28 Years Later Will Restart & Continue The Zombie Genre
While the mere existence of28 Years Latercould jumpstart the zombie subgenre, there is more up the movie’s sleeve. In January 2024,it was announced that28 Years Laterwould be happening and that it’s the first of a planned trilogy. The three movies will follow a new cast, although original franchise starCillian Murphy will return for28 Years Later.28 Days Later’soriginal screenwriter,Alex Garland, is also returning to write this new trilogy, while original director, Danny Boyle, is on board to direct the first film.Ultimately, this28 Years Latertrilogyis monumental for zombie movies.
Just one sequel of a beloved zombie movie already has the chance to reinvigorate audiences' love for zombies, but three movies mean even more chances.
Just one sequel of a beloved zombie movie already has the chance to reinvigorate audiences' love for zombies, but three movies mean even more chances. It also decreases the risk of failure. In 2019, a sequel toZombieland, Zombieland: Double Tap,was released, and though it was fairly well-received, it mostly went under the radar.28 Years Latermay have suffered the same fate, but with two more movies at its back, there is a greater opportunity for the zombie genre to come back in full force.
I Am Legend 2 Could Make More Sequels Possible
Michael B. Jordan Could Be The New Star
Although there is less information out there aboutI Am Legend 2,this movie could also spawn more zombie sequels.I Am Legend 2will reportedly star Will Smith, reprising his role as Robert Neville, and Michael B. Jordan, whose character has yet to be revealed.The movie will followI Am Legend’salternate ending, wherein Smith’s character Neville survives. In particular, screenwriter Avika Goldsman revealed thatI Am Legend 2’s storywill explore the idea that “man’s time on the planet as the dominant species has come to an end.”
I Am Legend is based on a 1954 book of the same name by Richard Matheson.
While Will Smith’s return is exciting,it is Michael B. Jordan’s participation inI Am Legend 2that is a true sign of sequel material. If Smith alone was headlining the film,I Am Legend 2could seem like a one-off sequel, or at least, like Smith would carry any additional sequels himself. However,withI Am Legendbringing new talent in via Jordan, there is a chance that he will continue with this franchise. Where Will Smith is the legacy actor, Michael B. Jordan is the new generation that could lead futureI Am Legends.
28 Years Later & I Am Legend 2 Succeeding Will Bring More Zombie Movies
Good Zombie Movies Will Breed More Zombie Movies
Overall, if28 Years LaterandI Am Legend 2do well upon release, it seems likely that a zombie movie resurgence will be on the horizon. Hollywood tends to repeat things if they are successful, and in this way, if these sequels do well at the box office and with audiences, then more are likely to come. If this happens,zombie movies may finally have a renaissance like they saw in the early 2000s.
And zombie movies aside,28 Years LaterandI Am Legend 2are incredibly exciting on their own.28 Years Lateris bringing back so many components of the original 2002 movie that the chances of success are high. Plus, a planned trilogy means that the excitement will last for several years to come.I Am Legend 2is similarly thrilling due to Smith’s return and the potential for where the sequel could go. In the end, these zombie sequels have big shoes to fill, but if they succeed, success could spread to the subgenre and horror genre overall.
