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Will Smith and Charlton Heston: Leading Actors in Different Adaptations of a Post-Apocalyptic Book

although this is how the majority of life on Earth is destined to conclude. The cinema has showcased numerous apocalyptic scenarios, alongside several post-apocalyptic series available on streaming platforms. One narrative that has been revisited numerous times stems from a Richard Matheson novel published in 1954. The pioneering sci-fi horror book “I Am Legend” chronicles the journey of Robert Neville, the sole survivor of a virus that has decimated most of humanity and transformed others into what he perceives to be vampires. At the forefront of the undead is Ben Cortman, Neville’s previous neighbor, who relentlessly attempts to persuade Neville to embrace the new order. It’s a brief, profoundly grim read that intertwines science with the supernatural, featuring a tragic protagonist caught in between.

In 1964, the tale was adapted into “The Last Man on Earth,” featuring Vincent Price. Regrettably, the result didn’t meet Matheson’s expectations, prompting him to request the removal of his name from the film and to be credited under the pseudonym Logan Swanson. Fortunately, Hollywood and viewers were somewhat more favorable towards the later adaptations. In 1971, Charlton Heston led “The Omega Man,” and eventually, a few decades afterward, we saw “I Am Legend” with Will Smith. While both films retained the essential theme of one man versus the world, they explored Matheson’s haunting story in distinctly different manners, introducing very different types of monsters along the way.