What Ever Happened to Bright 2?

What Ever Happened to Bright 2?

As a long-time fan of both Will Smith and fantasy films, I was genuinely excited when Netflix announced “Bright 2”. The prospect of seeing Daryl Ward (Smith) and Nick Jakoby (Edgerton) return to their gritty, orc-infested Los Angeles was tantalizing. However, the sequel’s journey to production has been as bumpy as an unpaved Elvish road.


In the year 2017, Netflix launched a film titled “Bright” starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton. This production was helmed by David Ayer, who is known for directing Suicide Squad, and boasted an impressive ensemble cast including Noomi Rapace and Edgar Ramirez. With Max Landis writing the screenplay at the time, it appeared that this movie had all the ingredients for success. In fact, Netflix announced a sequel to the film in December of the same year, with both Smith and Edgerton committed to reprise their roles. Regrettably, however, that follow-up film was never made.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but ponder over the fate of the anticipated sequel to Bright – Bright 2. Unlike many sequels that often meet their demise due to poor ratings or financial woes, this one faced an unusual predicament. The decisive factor, it seems, was the actions of the film’s main star, Smith. So, let’s delve deeper into what might have been for Bright 2, and understand why Netflix ultimately chose to shelve the project before it even began production.

What went wrong with Netflix’s Bright?

What Ever Happened to Bright 2?

Netflix’s film “Bright” marked David Ayer’s return to directing after the critically disappointing “Suicide Squad,” a movie Ayer himself has acknowledged was heavily influenced by studio meddling. Prior to this setback, Ayer had demonstrated his directorial prowess with films such as “Fury” and “End of Watch.” Fans were thrilled when Ayer agreed to direct “Bright” for Netflix. The film brought Ayer together with Smith once more, offering a familiar gritty style and law enforcement themes, but also introducing orcs, elves, and fairies into the mix.

Despite initial success, the film’s reputation significantly deteriorated post-release. A tweet from Netflix promoting the movie sparked accusations against its writer, Landis, by an actress who claimed he had mistreated and assaulted several victims. These allegations cast a shadow over the film, and as more details about Landis emerged, the film was overshadowed by these troubling claims, effectively burying it under a mountain of concerning information.

Reasons for the Delay or Cancelation of Bright 2

In late 2023, Netflix decided to produce a follow-up to the film “Bright”. However, the project was already facing challenges. By this time, director Landis’ career had significantly slowed due to allegations made against him during the initial release of “Bright”. This eventually led Netflix to hire David Ayer and Evan Spiliotopoulos, known for writing Disney’s live-action version of “Beauty and the Beast”, to script “Bright 2”. The production timeline was yet to be determined.

Currently, it appears that the production of “Bright 2” remains canceled, and it’s unlikely Netflix will change their mind about this anytime soon. Since the debut of the first movie, Netflix has experienced significant management changes and challenges similar to those faced by Hollywood, including strikes and the COVID-19 pandemic. These circumstances seem to have led Netflix to concentrate more on the content they release.

At the moment, you can only watch Bright on Netflix. Additionally, there’s a related anime film, called Bright: Samurai Soul, which is also available for streaming on Netflix right now.

Read More

2024-10-01 04:04