The Remarkable Link Between 'I Am Legend' and Will Smith's Iconic Fresh Prince Joke

Will Smith's expansive career spans across various TV shows and movies of different genres. It came as a surprise to discover that his two most dissimilar projects, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and I Am Legend, share a common joke. Fresh Prince, a '90s sitcom, catapulted Smith to stardom, and its influence lives on in the highly acclaimed TV reboot, Bel-Air. However, Smith proved his versatility by taking on more serious roles as his career progressed, with none more intense than the "vampire/zombie" horror/thriller, I Am Legend.

In I Am Legend, Smith portrays Robert Neville, a hardened survivor in a world ravaged by a deadly plague that transformed most of humanity into creatures of darkness. This 2007 film presents a heartbreaking narrative, with Smith's character enduring the loss of his family in a helicopter crash while attempting to escape from New York City. As a result, Neville leads a reclusive existence. Given the intense storyline, one would expect minimal room for humor in I Am Legend. However, amidst the tension, scattered moments of levity exist, including a surprising occurrence where a joke from Fresh Prince is cleverly incorporated into the film.

I Am Legend & Fresh Prince Both Use The Same Bob Marley Joke

Will Smith sings Bob Marley's famous hit "I Shot the Sheriff" in a high-pitched voice in both Fresh Prince and I Am Legend. The joke originated in Fresh Prince in 1991, with the episode "Nice Lady," where Will wears a Rastafarian outfit and sings the song while dancing. In I Am Legend, the scene is a bit different, with Anna seeing a picture of Robert's daughter named Marley, and Will Smith's character attempts to jog her memory by singing the same song in a high-pitched voice. It's worth noting that the inclusion of this joke in a post-apocalyptic film like I Am Legend may be considered unusual, given its light-hearted origin in Fresh Prince.

Another Will Smith Movie References Bob Marley Too

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There are several interesting connections between Bob Marley and Will Smith that can be found in the movie Shark Tale. In one scene, when the main character Oscar is caught in seaweed and encounters two jellyfish named Ernie and Bernie, he attempts to sing Bob Marley's song "Three Little Birds". However, Ernie interrupts him and jokingly remarks, "That's not how you sing that song, man!" What makes this even more special is that the character of Ernie, who is a jellyfish, is voiced by Ziggy Marley, the actual son of Bob Marley. Additionally, the jellyfish are introduced in the movie using Marley's "Three Little Birds" tune.

These references suggest that Will Smith has a deep admiration for Bob Marley and his music. This is further highlighted in the movie I Am Legend, where Smith's character introduces a woman named Anna to Bob Marley's extensive discography. Smith's character explains that Marley believed that music and love had the power to heal racism and hatred. This demonstrates Smith's appreciation for Marley's message and influence. It is interesting to see how a popular sitcom like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and a intense horror/thriller like I Am Legend can be linked through a similar joke, showcasing Smith's connection to Bob Marley.