However, Smith was unimpressed with Markle's acting credentials and refused to have her as his co-star. He allegedly conveyed to WME that he views Markle as a celebrity who gained fame primarily due to her royal connections. He stated that he does not hold her in high regard as an artist and prefers to work with individuals who have established themselves in the industry and exhibit a genuine passion for acting. Smith emphasized that he does not believe Markle possesses the talent or charisma required for a convincing role in a sci-fi action movie.
Smith's rejection is a significant setback for Markle's aspirations to revive her acting career, which has remained stagnant since her departure from the legal drama series "Suits," where she gained widespread recognition. Although Markle has not appeared in any film or TV show since 2018 when she became a member of the British royal family, she and Prince Harry relocated to California in 2020, where they signed lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify. Markle has expressed her desire to return to acting, citing her love for the creative process and the challenge of portraying diverse characters.
However, Markle's ambitions have faced skepticism and criticism from many who accuse her of opportunism, leveraging her royal status to advance her career. Some of her former co-stars and colleagues have also alleged that she was difficult to work with and treated them poorly. Markle has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that she has always maintained professionalism and respect on set.
"I Am Legend 2" is a sequel to the 2007 movie in which Smith portrayed Robert Neville, the last human survivor in a world plagued by a global epidemic that transformed most of the population into zombie-like creatures. The sequel explores an alternate ending where Robert realizes that the infected are intelligent beings and joins other survivors in a camp. The film delves into the idea that humanity's reign as the dominant species has come to an end and draws inspiration from the novel and video game "The Last of Us."
Markle's supporters have defended her acting abilities and humanitarian work, expressing excitement for her upcoming projects with Netflix and Spotify, which are expected to showcase her voice and creative vision. They have urged Smith to reconsider his decision and offer Markle an opportunity to demonstrate her acting prowess in "I Am Legend 2."
