With no concrete updates about its release or production, it seems like I Am Legend 2 is not coming out anytime soon. However, while waiting for it to come out, viewers can check out another compelling but underseen post-apocalyptic miniseries that has only 6 episodes.
Post apocalyptic movies and shows are a dime a dozen, with only a few leaving their mark both commercially and critically. The first I Am Legend movie struggled to impress critics because of its massive creative liberties and oversimplification of its source material’s plot. However, from a commercial standpoint, the film performed incredibly well, paving the way for a sequel.
While I Am Legend 2‘s production is still in its early stages, audiences can fill the void by checking out other similar shows and movies. One show that serves as the perfect replacement for the film even came out less than a year ago.
Earth Abides & I Am Legend Have Similar Opening Sequences
In both Earth Abides and I Am Legend, the male protagonists are shown to be in post-apocalyptic worlds where they believe they are the sole survivors. They hear nothing but the echoes of their own footsteps as they navigate a world that has fallen unnervingly silent. As both stories progress, the protagonists notice how humanity’s absence allows animals to reclaim spaces once dominated by people.
The main characters in both, Ish and Neville, put their scientific knowledge to good use to find the truth about how they can reverse the damage caused by the overarching pandemic and restart civilization. To their dismay, both struggle to find answers and are forced to question the limitations of human reason where old rules of nature are no longer applicable.
Earth Abides’ Post-Apocalyptic Drama Is Grounded & Realistic
The sole survivor trope is now overused in post-apocalyptic narratives. However, Earth Abides‘ original novel, which was published in 1949, was among the first few stories in the genre to popularize it. Another thing that makes George R. Stewart’s Earth Abides a unique addition to the genre is that it keeps its drama grounded and realistic.
Even its TV adaptation on MGM+ does not feature any supernatural elements or exaggerated threats. Instead, it walks through the real challenges humans would likely face in a post-apocalyptic world. The show’s protagonist is also not a textbook hero as he, too, struggles to adapt to the new normal while shedding his old beliefs about civilization.
Earth Abides Adapts A Book That Inspired A Stephen King Classic
Interestingly, the original Earth Abides book also served as one of the biggest inspirations behind Stephen King’s The Stand. In Danse Macabre, Stephen King revealed that he was once reading up about “an accidental CBW spill in Utah,” which made him remember George R. Stewart’s Earth Abides.
The mere recollection of Earth Abides and its post-apocalyptic world sparked Stephen King’s genius, prompting him to write The Stand. Earth Abides may not be as popular as other mainstream post-apocalyptic shows and movies like I Am Legend, but its source material’s influence on the genre and its ability to stay grounded yet gripping make it the perfect series for sci-fi thriller fans.
