Although some advise against working with animals, Will Smith fondly remembers his collaboration with his canine co-star from “I Am Legend”, man’s best co-star…
Warning spoilers! This article reveals key elements of the plot of “I Am Legend” (2007).
Will Smith remembers his canine partner Abbey well from Francis Lawrence’s 2007 film I Am Legend, whom he calls downright “brilliant actress”. At the time of filming, the actor had also tried to adopt the German shepherd who stole the show in the successful feature film.
Abbey has indeed lent her features to the dog Samantha in I’m a legend, alongside another German Shepherd, Kona, replacing her for some scenes. Although it has been more than a decade since Will Smith has not shared the screen with her, his recent comments confirm that he has not forgotten his four-legged co-star.
“It was like Abbey spoke English… She could literally understand you, it was the strangest thing”, he explained in the latest episode of the “Hot Ones” show broadcast on YouTube (via Deadline).
Unfortunately, he was unable to take Abbey home because she “was her family’s breadwinner and she must remain so”, said the actor.
Loosely adapted from Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel, I’m a legend tells the story of a former US Army virologist, Robert Neville, who, when a virus, originally created to cure cancer, wipes out most of humanity, becomes the last man to haunt the ruins of New York. For 3 years, he broadcast radio messages every day in the hope of finding other survivors. But Neville is not alone: mutants, victims of the virus, prowl at night. To survive, he has only one option: immune to the virus, he sets out to develop a cure from his own blood, with his dog Sam (Abbey) as his only companion.
Warner Bros.
Remembering a heartbreaking scene in which Sam becomes infected and Neville must end his life, Will Smith revealed that his owner and trainer simply had to say “Abbey, die” and she played dead, as she did in the final scene of the film: “[Elle a été entraînée] to become limp and I laid her down. How to train a dog to go limp? It was like working with a brilliant actress”, he concluded.
In April, Will Smith paid tribute to Abbey on National Pet Day with a video montage of their duet to a moving song, writing in the caption: “The good girl”.
Where is the rest?
Announced in 2022, the sequel to the cult film is still “in preparation for” according to Michael B. Jordan’s statements to People last week. The sequel will feature him alongside Will Smithwhile they will both be the producers.
“We are still working on the script to make it up to par. There’s no release date or anything like that”, he clarified. “I’m not sure where we’re going to film this one, but I’m really excited to get in front of the camera with him. As someone I’ve admired for a very long time, being able to work with Will is something I’m really looking forward to. I’m really excited.”
While waiting to be able to discover this second part, I am a legend, with Abbey, can be seen again on VOD.
Check out the full interview with Will Smith in the video below: