Netflix is moving forward withBright 2, bringing aboardEvan Spiliotopoulosto write the script, taking over for originalBrightwriter Max Landis. OriginalBrightdirector David Ayer is returning to the helm, with Will Smith and Joel Edgerton expected to reprise their roles as Daryl Ward and Nick Jakoby, respectively. Netflix has yet to announce a production start date, or a release date for this sequel, but it will mark the first sequel for any of the streaming service’s original movies.
Sources say that Max Landis, who wrote the originalBright, will not be involved withBright 2. The writer reportedly had creative differences withreturning director David Ayer, which lead to the writer parting ways on the sequel. Max Landis was paid a whopping sum for his originalBrightscript, reportedly between $3 million and $4 million, which was part of a package that Netflix paid $90 million for, beating out several other parties in an intense bidding war.
The originalBrightwas set in a futuristic version of Los Angeles where humans reside alongside orcs, faeries and other creatures. The story centers onWill Smith’s Daryl Ward, an LAPD cop returning to duty after a near-death injury, only to find he’s been partnered up with an orc, Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton), much to his chagrin. While Jakoby is eager to make this partnership work, Ward is less than willing, but they both must work together when they come across an ancient weapon that humans and orcs alike are desperately searching for. No story details have been given for the sequel just yet.
Back in early January, just days afterBrightwas released onNetflix, the streaming service released a brief teaser for the sequel, although no specifics were released regarding this follow-up. While Netflix still doesn’t release concrete viewing data,Brightwas said to be the most-watched Netflix film in its first week in release, and one of themost-watched Netflix originalsever, including films, TV shows, documentaries and more. The movie was also the top film in every country Netflix is available in, and was watched internationally more times than it was domestically. There is no word yet if otherBrightstars will return, such as Noomi Rapace as Leilah, Edgar Ramirez as Kandomere, Lucy Fry as Tikka, Happy Anderson as Montehugh or Ike Barinholtz as Pollard.
Evan Spiliotopoulos started his writing career with a number of animated kids movies like the theatrical releasePooh’s Heffalump Movieand a number of straight-to-video animated sequels likeThe Lion King 1 ½andThe Jungle Book 2. He moved over to live-action theatrical fare with the 2014 action-thrillerHercules, starring Dwayne Johnson, andThe Huntsman: Winter’s War, starring Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron. He most recently wroteBeauty and the Beastalongside Stephen Chbosky, which became one of the biggest box office hits of 2017.The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news onBright 2landing writer Evan Spiliotopoulos earlier today.
