<P> Goldsman took on the project as he admired the second I Am Legend film adaptation, The Omega Man . A rewrite was done to distance the project from the other zombie films inspired by the novel, as well as from the recently released 28 Days Later, although Goldsman was inspired by the scenes of a deserted London in the British horror film to create the scenes of a deserted New York City . A 40 - page scene - by - scene outline of the film was developed by May 2006 . When delays occurred on Smith's film Hancock, which was scheduled for 2007, it was proposed to switch the actor's films . This meant filming would have to begin in 16 weeks: production was given a green light, using Goldsman's script and the outline . Elements from Protosevich's script were introduced, while the crew consulted with experts on infectious diseases and solitary confinement . Rewrites continued throughout filming, because of Smith's improvisational skills and Lawrence's preference to keep various scenes silent . The director had watched Jane Campion's film The Piano with a low volume so as to not disturb his newborn son, and realized that silence could be very effective cinema . </P> <P> Will Smith signed on to play Robert Neville in April 2006 . He said he took on I Am Legend because he felt it could be like "Gladiator (or) Forrest Gump--these are movies with wonderful, audience - pleasing elements, but also uncompromised artistic value . (This) always felt like it had those possibilities to me ." The actor found Neville to be his toughest acting challenge since portraying Muhammad Ali in Ali (2001). He said that "when you're on your own, it is kind of hard to find conflict ." The film's dark tone and exploration of whether Neville has gone insane during his isolation meant Smith had to restrain himself from falling into a humorous routine during takes . To prepare for his role, Smith visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Georgia . He also met with a person who had been in solitary confinement and a former prisoner of war . Smith compared Neville to Job, who lost his children, livelihood, and health . Like the Book of Job, I Am Legend studies the questions, "Can he find a reason to continue? Can he find the hope or desire to excel and advance in life? Or does the death of everything around him create imminent death for himself?" He also cited an influence in Tom Hanks' performance in Cast Away (2000). </P> <P> Abbey and Kona, both three - year - old German Shepherd dogs, played Neville's dog Sam . The rest of the supporting cast consists of Salli Richardson as Zoe, Robert's wife, and Alice Braga as a survivor named Anna . Willow Smith, Will Smith's daughter, makes her film debut as Marley, Neville's daughter . Emma Thompson has an uncredited role as Dr. Alice Krippin, who appears on television explaining her vaccine for cancer that mutates into the virus . Singer Mike Patton provided the guttural screams of the infected "hemocytes", and Dash Mihok provided the character animation for the infected "alpha male". Several filler characters with uncredited roles were in old news broadcasts and flashbacks, such as the unnamed President's voice (Pat Fraley), and the cast of The Today Show . </P> <P> Akiva Goldsman decided to move the story from Los Angeles to New York City to take advantage of locations that would more easily show emptiness . Goldsman explained, "L.A. looks empty at three o'clock in the afternoon, (but) New York is never empty...it was a much more interesting way of showing the windswept emptiness of the world ." Warner Bros. initially rejected this idea because of the logistics, but Francis Lawrence was determined to shoot on location, to give the film a natural feel that would benefit from not shooting on soundstages . Lawrence went to the city with a camcorder, and filmed areas filled with crowds . Then, a special effects test was conducted to remove all those people . The test had a powerful effect on studio executives . Michael Tadross convinced authorities to close busy areas such as the Grand Central Terminal viaduct, several blocks of Fifth Avenue, and Washington Square Park . The film was shot primarily in the anamorphic format, with flashback scenes shot in Super 35 . </P>

Will smith's dogs name in i am legend