All of the details for the upcoming Netflix Originals fantasy action-thriller, Bright, have arrived with the release of the full-length trailer thanks to the buzz of San Diego ComicCon this weekend. Starring Will Smith (After Earth) and Joel Edgerton (It Comes At Night), it features a story that imagines an alternate universe for modern day LA in which Orcs, Fairies, Elves and magic wands exist in the same world as the rest of us.
AdvertisementIf you take Training Day and smashed it into The Hobbit you wouldn’t be too far off the concept for the upcoming film and from the look of the trailer Netflix is really throwing a lot of production values at this one to go along with the big name cast. It’s director David Ayer’s latest project following on from Suicide Squad in 2016, which also starred Will Smith.
Release date
Bright has now been confirmed for a UK release date on Netflix on the 22nd of December 2017, so it’s going to be one of the must-see holiday releases, along with the Doctor Who Christmas Special. Netflix has been ramping up its original production for while now and Bright looks set to be one of its biggest investment, so will be interesting to see whether or not the film leads onto a serious later on down the line.
Story
The plot follows two LAPD cops out on a routine night on patrol, but things take a bizarre twist that leads to a dangerous discovery that will shake the very foundations of the fantastical world that they live in. The new crime-fighting duo is made up of Ward, a human (Will Smith), and Jakoby, an orc (Joel Edgerton), and they’re thrown together in a squad car to promote diversity in the force, but it isn’t the friendliest of partnerships.
When they discover a young female elf in trouble and a powerful magical wand that can grant whoever controls it anything their heart desires, the patrol becomes the most dangerous either of them have ever faced. Enemies surface out of the woodwork as the fantasy thrill ride unfolds and they’re forced to work together and stop the wand from falling into the wrong hands.
Cast
Will Smith and Joe Edgerton lead the cast as Ward and Jakoby and they’re joined by Lucy Fry as the young elf they find with the wand. The cast also includes Noomi Rapace (Prometheus), Edgar Ramirez, Ike Barinholtz (Sisters), Enrique Murciano, Jay Hernandez, Andrea Navedo, Veronica Ngo, Alex Meraz, Margaret Cho, Brad William Henke, Dawn Olivieri, and Kenneth Choi.
AdvertisementProduction
David Ayer has directed the production of Bright for Netflix, making his debut for the media streaming network with previous films being Cinematic releases like Suicide Squad and Fury.You can keep up with the latest from the director on his Twitter account.
The screenplay and story has been written by Max Landis, who’s back catalogue includes American Ultra and Victor Frankenstein. David Ayer, Eric Newman, and Bryan Unkeless are the producers.
First impressions
Bright is shaping up to be an impressive release for Netflix and a welcome addition to the catalogue of options for anyone that subscribes to it. If it lands as well as it looks like it might do then it may well go on to add to Netflix is global growth, which seems to be going from strength to strength at the moment.
The big-name cast, high production value’s and mirror image fantasy story make this one of the most exciting releases in December. It may not be up there with Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but it’s definitely looking hard to miss.
