How I Am Legend Filmed Its Empty New York Scenes

I Am Legend’s haunting imaginative and prescient of an deserted New York is one among its most iconic components, and here is how the filmmakers made the town look empty.

I Am Legend’s imaginative and prescient of a abandoned New York is haunting, however how did the filmmakers make the town that by no means sleeps appeared abandoned? Will Smith’s I Am Legend underwent extra permutations earlier than hitting screens; Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ridley Scott have been set to make it within the late ’90s, whereas Michael Bay briefly grew to become connected within the early 2000s. These early scripts additionally came about in Los Angeles, however when director Francis Lawrence got here on board, he felt an deserted New York could be a way more highly effective visible.

Whereas the prices and logistics concerned made Warner Bros nervous, Lawrence advised Empire in 2008 that he shot take a look at footage in New York with a camcorder, with all indicators of life being eliminated with digital results; this satisfied them it may very well be carried out. As recounted in a 2022 Inverse retrospective on I Am Legend, the inside of Neville’s (Will Smith) dwelling have been constructed within the Marcy Avenue Armory, whereas scenes involving Instances Sq. have been shot on stage in Kingsbridge Armory, situated within the Bronx. Nonetheless, a big chunk of I Am Legend (which has an alternate ending) have been truly shot on the streets of New York – and it wasn’t straightforward.

Associated: How 28 Days Later Filmed Its Empty London Scenes

I Am Legend Shut Down Streets & Used CGI

I Am Legend shot at many iconic locales across the metropolis, together with Fifth Avenue, the Grand Central Terminal viaduct, Greenwich Village, the Intrepid plane service (the place Neville performs golf) and plenty of extra. To movie these scenes, manufacturing assistants first needed to costume the streets with grass and weeds (to characterize years of nature taking the town again), along with including deserted automobiles or destroyed storefronts. The town granted the manufacturing pockets of time to movie, which require police and crew to maintain civilians and site visitors out of body. Making New York empty wasn’t low-cost both – based on NY Magazine, $40 million of I Am Legend’s funds went in direction of it.

Slumberland director Lawrence did not need a darkish, creepy imaginative and prescient of New York both, and wished pure mild to spotlight how eerie the town could be with out fixed motion. Whereas the purpose of filming in New York was to make use of as few visible results as doable, CGI was nonetheless required to take away indicators of life in post-production. Extra decay was added to the town, whereas pedestrians and site visitors have been additionally worn out with just a little CG help. Whereas performers in make-up have been employed to play the Darkseekers, it was determined throughout filming to make the creatures CG as a substitute; this late change accounts for the customarily lackluster results work on the creatures.

Is I Am Legend 2 Nonetheless Occurring?

Smith’s Neville dies on the finish of I Am Legend’s theatrical lower, and whereas prequel and sequel ideas have been explored, it appeared a follow-up would by no means occur. That is why followers have been shocked when I Am Legend 2 that includes Michael B. Jordan and Smith was introduced in early March 2022. No plot particulars have been revealed, however within the fallout of Smith’s notorious Chris Rock slap through the 2022 Academy Awards, the destiny of the sequel has been in query. It is doable Smith’s I Am Legend 2 function will solely be a cameo anyway, however the studio has but to substantiate if the sequel continues to be coming.

Subsequent: I Am Legend’s Alternate Ending Defined: What Occurs & Why It Was Reduce