I Am Legend’s Alternate Ending Explained

Were you aware that your favorite horror movie, I Am Legend, could have ended on a completely different note? Those who have read the original novel from 1954 would have been surprised to watch the theoretical ending of the movie. With too much contemplation viewers would be confused and have questions about why the filmmakers didn’t go with the original ending. Well, to ease the stress, this blog will answer all these curiosities as we go in-depth to understand the I Am Legend alternate ending.

I Am Legend’s Alternate Ending Explained

The I Am Legend alternate ending was more faithful to the original novel but it couldn’t make it to the film. The alternate ending would have given a whole different perspective on the story and the characters in the movie. The alternate ending of the movie better highlights the real pain and emotions that the infected go through, leading to Neville questioning his deeds when he discovers his darkest side.

According to the novel, Neville comes across an astonishing truth that strikes like lightning. The Dark Seekers were not mindless monsters; rather they were sentients trying to protect themselves from Neville, whom they considered a threat to civilization. Neville had been capturing and experimenting with them, making him a danger to all.

He also learns about the Dark Seekers’ family structure and that all this time he was fighting to protect his mate. He soon realizes that he is the real antagonist of the story while watching the Alpha mate reunite with his partner, who was captured by Neville.

The story ends in peace as the Dark Seekers elope with the Alpha’s mate and Neville doesn’t have to sacrifice himself to protect Anna and Ethan. He abandons his research and moves to Vermont along with the two and the antidote.

Summary of I Am Legend

I Am Legend is a 2007 post-apocalyptic horror film starring Will Smith, inspired by the novel of the same name written by Richard Matheson. A genetically engineered virus converts half of the human population along with other species into bloodthirsty mutants, leaving the town of New York City abandoned with only Neville and his dog.

Neville is a scientist living in an abandoned house and spends his days scavenging for supplies and broadcasting messages.

He is immune to the virus and is in search of other remaining human populations and developing an antidote to stop this catastrophe while holding together his sanity. He begins to hallucinate and question his own reality. These bloodthirsty mutants are called the Dark Seekers; they live in shades as they cannot bear the heat and get burn in the sun.

Dark Seeker’s enjoy freedom at night, while Neville becomes extra conscious of not being found out. One day, he meets Anna and her young son, Ethan, who are also immune to the virus.

Anna believes there are more survivors and goes out in search leading the Dark Seekers to their hideout. Led to a corner in his laboratory with Dark Seekers all around, Neville sacrifices himself to protect the mother and son as he becomes successful in developing the vaccine.

The film ends with Anna and Ethan safely finding the community of human survivors and handing them the antidote. There is a hope of retrieving the human civilization.

It explores various themes like hope and survival, the nature of humanity, and loneliness and isolation. Even though the movie genre is horror, I Am Legend is a visually stunning and mindful movie that delivers a cautious tale about the danger that science and technology can bring to humanity. And reminds us that humanity is capable of doing great good to society and even greater evil by not being cautious of our actions.

Why The I Am Legend Alternate Ending Wasn’t Used

I Am Legend alternate ending wasn’t faithful to the original novel ending, but it was more conventional and crowd-pleasing. When the original ending was tested, the audience found it unsatisfying and a bit confusing. They wanted to watch Neviile be victorious over the vampires rather than be portrayed as the villain in the end. But it can be said that the alternate ending was closer to the spirit, with Neville understanding that he isn’t the most righteous man either.

As a result, Neville is shown holed up in his laboratory making attempts to discover the antidote for the virus. Ultimately, he discovers it but finds himself surrounded by Dark Seekers with confrontation as the only way out. Eventually, he sacrifices himself to kill the vampires and save Anna-Ethan, who can later be seen finding a survivor’s colony with Neville’s antidote that can retrieve their civilization. Also, many critics find this ending very dark and depressing.

The ultimate decision and control over the ending of the film are in the hands of the filmmakers. The theoretical ending was approved after much contemplation, keeping in mind different essential factors involved in the process, like the test audience response, the faithfulness of the source material, and their artistic vision. Therefore, it is best to support their decision.

Will I Am Legend 2 Follow The I Am Legend Alternate Ending or Not?

With the announcement of part of the movie with Will Smith’s return alongside a new cast including Michael B. Jordan and more, multiple questions arise on how the filmmakers plan to continue the film.

Since Neville had the antidote, did he vaccinate himself and the rest to protect them? Or did he completely lose his memory and regain it on the way with his recorded vlogs that he made during research? The more ideas that inflate, the more excited it becomes to wait for Part 2.

It is reported that the I Am Legend 2 alternate ending will not precede the previous film; rather, it will be more faithful to the original novel, where Neville discovers the truth and realizes the big sin he has committed by capturing and experimenting on the Dark Seekers.

Eventually, the truth unravels that Dark Seekers originally infected people with self-awareness, intelligence and feelings. They only became violent to protect themselves and their mates. In the alternate ending, Neville lets the Dark Seeker elope with his mate and establishes peace in the city.

However, the ending is not made official and might be changed along the way with filmmakers wanting to go in a different direction with the sequel. This would be a bold choice after the negative reactions received by the filmmakers from the test audience previously.

Also, after the first release, the audience now looks forward to a more conventional ending of revenge and return.

Although going along with the original ending would be very interesting and rewarding for the franchise and the original book’s loyal fanbase. With the I Am Legend 2 alternate ending, a new site of the complex relationship between humans and vampires will be unraveled along with the possibilities of their coexistence. This will also raise questions about the perseverance of good and evil and the morality of Neville’s actions in the first film.