Science fiction has long been one of storytellers most effective mediums for making social commentary without making overt political statements. Writer and director David Ayer has made a career out of bringing the gritty dark underworld of both cops and criminals in the inner city to life, with movies like Training Day, End of Watch, and Harsh Times. After a profitable foray into big budget filmmaking with last year’s Suicide Squad, Ayer is taking his show to the small screen on Netflix, with a truly unexpected movie.

Bright was written by Max Landis (Chronicle) and stars Will Smith who reunites with his Suicide Squad director, as a cop in an alternate reality where orcs, fairies, elves, and magic, exists. He’s joined on the beat by the police department’s first orc, played by Joel Edgerton. The two must find a way to trust each other in a city that has gone wild with magic and crime. 

There are clear allusions to modern day issues of racism, as well as misguided police procedures in urban neighborhoods. At yesterday’s panel at San Diego Comic Con, Smith and Ayer marveled at the freedom that they were afforded to bring their vision to life without studio interference. The movie also stars Edgar Ramirez (Point Break), Ike Barinholtz, and Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) as the film’s villain. 

This release of Bright is the next step in blurring the lines between theatrical and streaming releases. There have been very vocal opposition to the gradual shift, with Christopher Nolan taking a lead in the public discourse. The industry has their eyes on the project and it could be the type of film to really shake up the game. There isn’t a long wait, so until then…check out the trailer:

Official Synopsis: 

Set in an alternate present-day where humans, orcs, elves, and fairies have been co-existing since the beginning of time. Bright is genre-bending action movie that follows two cops from very different backgrounds. Ward (Will Smith) and Jakoby (Joel Edgerton), embark on a routine patrol night and encounter a darkness that will ultimately alter the future and their world as they know it.

Bright will be available on Netflix starting on December 22, 2017.

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Source: Netflix