Its a deeply quiet movie, says writer-producer Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind).

Its epic yet intimate; huge but tiny at the same time.

Theres a sweet spot Ive been chasing in my career, says Smith.

Image

Credit: Barry Wetcher

Its a $100 million-plus movie where the lead doesnt talk for the first hour, says Smith.

Its really just me and a dog.

We desperately had to get in there and figure out how to make it riveting.

In other words, says Smith, we took a big hint from Tom Hanks inCast Away.

Because if everyone really did, that would be a miserable existence.

This is an online-only excerpt from the EW Fall Movie Preview issue.

Click to read the full feature onI Am Legend.