March 10, 2016
If West Philadelphia native Will Smith is headed into politics in the near future, it surely won't be until after he wraps up production of his still-being-shopped -- but inching toward a deal -- fantasy cop thriller, "Bright."
The Hollywood Reporter reports that Netflix is the leading contender to purchase rights to the film, which will star Smith and Joel Edgerton. David Ayer, who also directed the upcoming DC Comics film "Suicide Squad" (starring Smith as Deadshot), will direct "Bright." The script will be written by Max Landis.
Details of the fantasy film's plot are scarce, but the gist is this: Smith, a human, and Edgerton, an orc, would team up as cops in a world where magical creatures and humanity live side-by-side, and a police division exists focused on magical crimes (think: Aurors in "Harry Potter"). Somewhere along the line, as tends to happen in fantasy films, the two -- along with the film's antagonists -- scramble in search of an all-powerful wand.
The deal would be significant as the most star-studded film effort Netflix has made since last year, when it ventured into the major-film foray with "Beasts of No Nation," which was notably overlooked at the Oscars. "Bright" also boasts a rather large production budget, estimated at anywhere from $80-$100 million.
Either way, look for the film sooner rather than later: Smith and Ayer are hoping to complete the film before deep-diving into a sequel for "Suicide Squad." The first "Suicide Squad," co-starring Ben Affleck, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto, will be released in theaters nationwide on Aug. 24.
Watch the trailer for "Suicide Squad" below.
