Netflix has confirmed plans for a Bright sequel, with Will Smith and Joel Edgerton once again starring. The streaming giant that is Netflix continues to make big strides when it comes to their original content. While their TV series have garnered the most attention, they are also looking to bolster their feature film library. They have been making original movies for a few years now, but none have been quite as popular as their bingeworthy series. Films like Beasts of No Nation, Okja, and Mudbound have pushed them closer to awards consideration, but Bright marks Netflix’s first attempt to launch a franchise.


The initial critical response to director David Ayer and screenwriter Max Landis’ fantasy cop drama was pretty negative, raising doubts about the prospect of a sequel. However, when it was reported that Bright generated 11 million views upon its launch, things started to look better for the followup. It turns out that Netflix is indeed happy with how Bright is performing, and has now confirmed that a sequel is coming.


Netflix confirmed today via a fun promotional video that Bright 2 is officially happening. The video (see the clip below) does not offer any firm details about the sequel, but Netflix has also confirmed that Will Smith and Joel Edgerton are slated to reprise their roles as the human cop Ward and his Orc partner Jakoby, respectively. David Ayer will also return as both writer and director, though Landis will not be involved (for obvious reasons). There is no word yet on when the sequel will hit Netflix.


The decision to green light a sequel may surprise some, but Bright (if nothing else) has remained in the spotlight since it premiered last month. The property is different than anything else Netflix has to offer, and the first installment only began to explore the Bright universe. With a sequel coming, Ayer and his collaborators will get the chance to blow the doors wide open on this concept. If they can do that with a better story and dive deeper into the fantasy elements of the Bright universe, then Bright 2 could prove to be a worthwhile sequel.


Now that a sequel has been confirmed, it will be interesting to see how quickly it arrives. Ayer still has Gotham City Sirens on his plate, but there has been little movement on that project since it was first announced. Ayer previously praised Netflix for letting directors make their vision, so he may be more inclined right now to continue his relationship with Netflix rather than return to the DC film franchise. Either way, a sequel is probably at least two years away, leaving plenty of time for fans of Bright to get excited.