Will Smith to return in Netflix's newly announced 'Bright' sequel

Netflix will follow up its fantasy-focused cop flick Bright with a sequel that is set to bring back stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton, as well as director David Ayer.

Released in December, Bright is set in an alternative Los Angeles where  elves, orcs, fairies, and dragons roam the streets. A metaphor for race relations in America, the film stars Smith as a veteran cop partnered with an orc played by Edgerton. Together, they protect a magic wand from a variety of supernatural characters working to get their hands on it.

Read more: Will Smith's 'Bright,' Netflix's attempt at a blockbuster, goes for woke — and falls flat

Max Landis, who wrote the original,  won't be involved in the sequel. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Landis was paid between $3 million and $4 million for the screenplay last year. He was recently accused of sexual assault by a number of women, according to the Daily Beast. Ayer will handle the writing duties this time.

Netflix's entry into the blockbuster genre, Bright had a budget of $90 million. It was largely disliked by critics;  the Inquirer review called it "pockmarked by ill-timed humor and insincere emotion."

Nevertheless,  Bright performed well for Netflix. It's currently the top film on the streaming service in more than 190 countries. Nielsen ratings indicate some 11 million U.S. users streamed it in the first several days after its release.

Netflix confirmed its Bright sequel on Wednesday with a clip of orc auditions. Watch the video here: