Will Smith’s 2017 Netflix action flick Bright, directed by David Ayer (Suicide Squad), performed well enough to boost Netflix’s revenue and subscriber count in the last quarter of 2017, as reported by Deadline. This would’ve prompted an inevitable sequel, Bright 2, but before the plan could come to fruition, allegations surfaced against the film’s screenwriter, Max Landis, the son of director John Landis.
Anna Akana, an actress who starred in Landis’s YouTube video, Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling, posted her accusation in response to a Netflix tweet that has now been deleted, stating (via The Mary Sue):
Written by a psychopath who s*xually abused and assaults women, right? Cool
Bright was eventually buried under controversy, overshadowing the release of the film. Bright 2 was announced in late 2023, but it looks like that won’t be happening anytime soon.
Why Netflix Won’t Make Bright 2: Actress’ Abuse Allegations Explained
Netflix was in hot soup following the allegations by actress Anna Akana. She was just the first of many women who came forward with their own stories of abuse by screenwriter Max Landis. After Akana posted the tweet online, Zoe Quinn, a video game developer, posted this tweet about him.
Sometimes men who commit sexual assault are talented screenwriters and their work comes with baggage.
other times, they’re Max Landis.
A total of eight women have come forward to tell stories of Landis’ heinous abuse, including actress Ani Baker, an ex-girlfriend who posted on social media that “this person is really destructive,” while telling the Daily Beast that she has heard from other women, “that I had never heard of who are like, ‘I too was tortured by this person.’ “
Ani Akker stated this while trying to defend Landis:
I read what actually happened from her perspective, and it is aggressive s*xual assault. And I immediately emailed or texted him and I said, you lied to me.
The Daily Beast article also points out that actress Whitney Moore was another person who was subjected to “horrific, inhumane things he did to me.”
According to Deadline, the writer was with CAA until the WGA ordered its members to fire their agents 10 weeks ago, and a CAA source said he won’t be welcomed back. He’s also been booted from Writ Large, the firm that managed him.
Following the trouble Max Landis had caused, the screenwriter was replaced with David Ayer and Evan Spiliotopoulos, who is best known for penning Disney’s live-action take on Beauty and the Beast. Unfortunately, Will Smith’s busy schedule was another factor in making the film tough to get done.
Upcoming Will Smith Movies That Make Bright 2 Impossible
Will Smith has a busy schedule for somebody so controversial, but there is no denying that he has a magnetic and strong presence on screen. Fans can see the legendary actor return to his favourite roles and new ones. Here is a list of upcoming films that he is starring in.
I am Legend 2 is easily the most awaited one, as the original film was a post-apocalyptic masterpiece involving zombies and isolation. According to Variety, the new film will follow an alternate ending wherein Smith’s Robert Neville survives. One particularly exciting addition to the film is Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is a 1987 comedy film by legendary director John Hughes, with Will Smith and Kevin Hart remaking the movie. The other films mentioned in the table are either in production hell or are being delayed following Will Smith’s deteriorating public image.
For fans of Bright, fret not, as one of the actors offers exciting updates regarding the future of the franchise and the sequels that immediately follow.
Joel Edgerton’s Comment on Bright 2 and 3: “There’s More to Discover”
In Bright, Joel Edgerton played Nick Jakoby, the first Orc police officer. He was the partner of human cop Daryl Ward, played by Will Smith. Jakoby faced hostility and prejudice from both humans and Orcs.
Edgerton updated fans regarding his reasons for signing for Bright’s sequel (via Joblo):
I think there’s a lot of fun to be had, there’s more to discover with the characters. I always think the best of anything and it’s the filmmakers or Netflix or any us learn from the response to the movie—and I’m talking about the negative responses to the movie and what people out there on the street loved about the movie—I think if you take all that information it puts you in a nice spot to make a second and maybe a third movie perhaps.
It’s always worth listening to the fans and the good and bad responses to it. I don’t know much, and I can tell you why I signed on for a sequel. I had a good time with the people; I had a tough time in the prosthetics for sure, but I loved playing the character.
Edgerton went on to explain that his role as the Orc police officer was the most exciting role he played, given the complete freedom he could exercise. He would also improvise a lot as the big, misunderstood monster. Here are key details of the first Bright film.
While the movie was panned critically and by audiences, the future of the franchise is in dire jeopardy as Will Smith has been subject to numerous controversies, including the infamous one during the 2022 Academy Awards.
How Will Smith’s Biggest Controversy Stops Netflix From Making Bright 2
Everything seemed to be going according to plan at Netflix after the announcement that Ayer and co-writer Spiliotopoulos would take over the sequel. In 2022, Will Smith came in his own way, by slapping Chris Rock across the face, leading to the biggest meme of the year.
Well, that just happened—Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, and social media is buzzing after one of TV's wildest nights pic.twitter.com/q7TqA3PONf
The backlash was immediate, with various studios and platforms backing out of deals with Will Smith. He tried to redeem himself with Bad Boys: Ride or Die, but it appears his redemption arc is slower than he expected.
Once again, Will Smith is Will Smith’s biggest enemy, as clips have surfaced online that point out AI use in his concert footage. Looking at the clip, it is definitely weird to see certain faces and hands look distorted.
People are claiming that Will Smith’s latest concert footage has an AI generated crowd.
Y’all come look at this shit. pic.twitter.com/MrNyxJCVvk
Will Smith has always been crowned the Prince of Bel-Air, but when it came to his music, everyone unanimously crowned him corny. His latest release definitely did not help his public image, as Will Smith, a 56 year-old-man raps about pretty girls.
Will Smith’s career is questionable, with many sharing the sentiment that the actor is well past his prime. If his upcoming films perform well and the controversies die out, will the Pursuit of Happyness star see a major comeback? Only time will tell, as FandomWire keeps you updated on the latest and greatest of Hollywood.
What do you think of Will Smith? Let us know in the comments.
Bright is currently streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
