Will Smith was blown away by his canine co-star Abby’s performance in I Am Legend, so much so that he wanted to make her a part of his family!

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air had a secret life as a devoted dog dad—almost. The actor formed an extraordinary bond with the dog, who played his loyal companion in a million-dollar film. Their on-set bond was undeniable, and Smith’s attempts to adopt her became the stuff of Hollywood legend.

Will Smith as Christopher Gardner in Pursuit of Happyness | Sony Entertainment
This unlikely duo’s story is a beautiful reminder of the special connections that can form on set. It’s a heartwarming tale of a man and his furry co-star that will leave you wanting more!

Will Smith’s canine co-star from I Am Legend was so much more than just a good girl

Will Smith as Robert Neville in I Am Legend | Warner Bros. Pictures
The Bad Boys star Will Smith was so smitten by his canine co-star from the $585 million blockbuster I Am Legend that he wanted to adopt her. During a recent IG reel shared by FilmInquirer, Smith couldn’t contain his awe for ‘Abby the Dog’s’ incredible acting chops.

When asked by the host if it was true that he wanted to adopt Abby from I Am Legend, Smith raved about her as if she were almost human-like in her intelligence. The 55-year-old gushed,

Man, Abby… It was like Abby spoke English. You could say, ‘Hey Abby, you see where I left my phone?’ Like she literally could understand you. It was the weirdest thing.

Smith even shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote about one of the film’s most iconic scenes, where Abby’s character gets choked and falls limp. She had to convincingly play dead, and the Academy Award-winning actor was amazed by how the dog’s training made it look so lifelike. Imitating Abby’s limp body, Smith marveled:

This scene where she bites, bites bites… I choke her and she lays out. Abby’s doing that. He trained Abby to go limp and I laid her like, how do you train a dog to go limp? It was like working with a brilliant actress!

Abby wasn’t just any movie pet—she was straight-up brilliant. Her training was so spot-on, it was like she had the instincts of a pro actor, and Smith was all about it! Guess Abby the Dog didn’t just share the screen; she stole the show and left a serious mark on Smith.

Will Smith Unveils True Voice and Teases His Most Personal Project Yet

Will Smith | Instagram (via @willsmith)
Will Smith sat down with fellow artist Russ to drop some serious truth bombs about his 2005 music album, revealing what inspired him. Smith found his true voice when he dropped Work of Art, the second single from the album. The actor told Russ (via Billboard):

‘Work of Art’ was the song where I found my voice. That’s how I wanna sound, that’s what I wanna talk about. I had recorded probably 20 tracks before that and there was the old constellation of ideas of who I thought I needed to be that was coming through in the music.

Smith debuted the single during the BET Awards and is now in talks with Black Film Allies for its release. He’s calling this Dance in Your Darkest Moments (a tentative title), but it’s going to be his most personal project yet.