By Lindsey Bahr, Film Writer
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP) --Imagine "End of Watch" but with orcs and fairies and magic. That's the vibe of Will Smith's big budget Netflix film "Bright ," which unveiled its first full trailer Thursday in a presentation at Comic-Con.
The film reunites Smith with his "Suicide Squad" director David Ayer and takes audiences to a gritty Los Angeles setting where two police officers, one human (Smith) and one orc (Joel Edgerton) have to contend with some mythical, evil forces plaguing the city. Noomi Rapace and Edgar Ramirez also star.
It was the Hall H debut for the streaming service, which brought out Smith, Edgerton, Ayer and the film's other stars to charm the 6,500 super fans in attendance and get them excited about the $90 million movie, which makes its Netflix debut on Dec. 22.
Ayer said "Bright" is not some "standard issue PG-13 movie."
"I was able to do some real (expletive)," Ayer said. "I was able to tell a real story. I was able to do my thing."
He praised Netflix for its support.
Smith said the film has the hard "rated-R grind of 'Training Day'" mashed up with "Lord of the Rings."
His character is stuck with the force's first orc cop, which Smith said gave him a rare character opportunity: to be racist.
"You never get to be racist when you're black," Smith said. "You're like, 'Look man, I don't want no orcs in my car.'"
Smith is just the latest A-list movie star to try his luck doing a big film with Netflix and has made waves in Hollywood with his support of the service.
"There is a difference between seeing a movie in a theater and seeing it on Netflix," Smith conceded, but added that he is "really excited" to see "whatever this new wave of entertainment is going to be."
Netflix also trotted out the director and cast of its upcoming film horror pic "Death Note," which some Comic-Con attendees will get to see in full Thursday night before its Aug. 25 Netflix launch.
Based on the manga series of the same name "Death Note" follows a high school student (Nat Wolff) who discovers a supernatural notebook that grants him the power to decide who dies and how. All he has to do is write a name and a method in the notebook and the Willem Dafoe-voiced demon Ryuk carries out the grim task.
Netflix is just one of a few studios previewing films for audiences at the annual fan convention. Earlier on Thursday, Fox showed footage from "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" and on Saturday the comic book giants DC and Marvel will go head-to-head with lengthy presentations.
Comic-Con runs through Sunday.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More