'I Am Legend' prequel in the works

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Hollywood's Warner Bros. studio reportedly is developing a prequel to "I Am Legend," with Will Smith set to play scientist Robert Neville again.

The 2007 flick grossed $584 million worldwide and featured Smith playing one of the last people on earth after a man-made virus wiped out most of humanity. Much of the movie featured Smith alone, except for his dog, or fighting off virus-infected mutants.

Variety.com said Francis Lawrence is also set to return to direct the prequel, while D.B. Weiss is penning the script for the film, which will lead up to the events in "Legend."

Smith has starred in the blockbusters "Independence Day," "Men in Black," "Men in Black II," "Hitch" and "Hancock."