Netflix confirms it's making a sequel to its Will Smith film 'Bright,' which critics hated but tons of people watched

Netflix

Will Smith and Joel Edgerton in the fantasy thriller "Bright."

• Netflix has officially announced that it's making a sequel to its Will Smith movie "Bright."
• A fantasy-action film with a reported budget of $90 million, "Bright" premiered on Netflix on December 22.
• Netflix said in a release that "Bright" was the "highest viewed Netflix film ever on the service in its first week."
• "Bright" director David Ayer will write and direct the sequel, while stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton are expected to return. 

Netflix has ordered a sequel to its Will Smith-led original movie, "Bright," the company confirmed Wednesday. 

A fantasy-action film starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton as LAPD cops in a world where humans, orcs, and elves coexist, "Bright" was made for a reported budget of over $90 million.

Netflix said in a release that "Bright" has been the "highest viewed Netflix film ever on the service in its first week of release." The film has also been critically panned: It currently sits at a 28% "Rotten" rating on the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

"Bright" director David Ayer ("Suicide Squad") will write and direct the film's sequel, while stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton are expected to return. The original film was written by Max Landis ("American Ultra").

"Bright" represents the company's strongest push yet into the world of big-budget films - an effort that will see the company release 80 original movies in 2018. 

Watch a video announcing the sequel below: